阅读说明：本技术 用于感应硬化系统的淬火喷嘴 (Quench nozzle for induction hardening system ) 是由 罗兰·席瑟 玛蒂娜·施蒂希特 格哈德·瓦格纳 于 2020-03-23 设计创作，主要内容包括：公开了一种用于感应硬化系统的孔口型淬火喷嘴(1),包括多个喷嘴孔口(2),淬火流体能够通过所述多个喷嘴孔口(2)施加到待淬火的工件上,其中,所述喷嘴孔口(2)成行(R)且成列(S)地布置在所述淬火喷嘴(1)的表面上,其中,每个喷嘴孔口(2)形成为在每个方向上距每个直接相邻的喷嘴孔口(2)的距离(d)相等。(An orifice-type quench nozzle (1) for an induction hardening system is disclosed, comprising a plurality of nozzle orifices (2) through which a quench fluid can be applied onto a workpiece to be quenched, wherein the nozzle orifices (2) are arranged in rows (R) and columns (S) on a surface of the quench nozzle (1), wherein each nozzle orifice (2) is formed with an equal distance (d) in each direction from each directly adjacent nozzle orifice (2).)

1. An orifice-type quench nozzle (1) for an induction hardening system, comprising a plurality of nozzle orifices (2) through which a quench fluid can be applied onto a workpiece to be quenched, wherein the nozzle orifices (2) are arranged in rows (R) and columns (S) on the surface of the quench nozzle (1), characterized in that each nozzle orifice (2) is formed with an equal distance (d) in each direction from each directly adjacent nozzle orifice (2).

2. The quench nozzle as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that for all nozzle orifices (2), two nozzle orifices (2) of a first row (R1) which are adjacent to one another and the nozzle orifices (2) of an adjacent second row (R2) which are arranged between the two nozzle orifices (2) of the first row (R1) form an equilateral triangle (D).

3. The quench nozzle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the spacing (a) of the two nozzle orifices (2) in the column direction (S) is at least twice the spacing (b) of the two nozzle orifices (2) in the row direction (R).

4. The quench nozzle according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the size and/or shape and/or number of the nozzle orifices (2) vary over the surface of the quench nozzle (1).

5. The quench nozzle according to claim 4, characterized in that the quench nozzle (1) comprises at least one first zone (4), in which first zone (4) the size and/or shape and/or number of the nozzle orifices (2) are adapted such that a first quench fluid discharge with a first fluid volume and/or first fluid velocity is achieved, and the quench nozzle (1) comprises at least one second zone (8), in which second zone (8) the size and/or shape and/or number of the nozzle orifices (2) are adapted such that a second quench fluid discharge with a second fluid volume and/or second fluid velocity is achieved.

6. The quenching nozzle according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one spacer (10) is provided on the surface of the quenching nozzle (1) facing the workpiece to be quenched; the spacer (10) is designed to define a minimum distance between the quenching nozzle (1) and the workpiece to be quenched.

7. The quench nozzle according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the quench nozzle (1) comprises nub-like projections (12) on at least one nozzle orifice (2), which nozzle orifice is formed in the nub-like projections (12), preferably that the quench nozzle (1) comprises nub-like projections (12) on all nozzle orifices (2).

8. The quench nozzle according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the quench nozzle (1) is configured for quenching a bearing ring to be induction hardened and that the quench nozzle (1) comprises a first flat quench surface (4) and a second flat quench surface (8), which first flat quench surface (4) and second flat quench surface (8) are set at an angle relative to each other and are connected to each other by a connecting surface (6), wherein each of the first flat quench surface (4), the second flat quench surface (8) and the connecting surface (6) comprises a plurality of nozzle orifices (2).

9. The quench nozzle as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the first flat quench surface (4) is configured for quenching the raceway of the bearing ring to be induction hardened and the connecting surface (6) is configured for quenching the retaining flange of the bearing ring to be induction hardened.

10. An induction feed hardening system comprising at least one quench nozzle (1) according to any of the preceding claims.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an orifice-type quench nozzle for an induction hardening system according to the preamble of patent solution 1. Furthermore, the present invention relates to an inductive fed hardening system comprising such a quench nozzle.

Background

For hardening the workpiece, an induction hardening system can be used, by which, for example, the entire workpiece can be hardened, but, for example, in the case of a feed hardening system, also regions of the workpiece can be hardened. After heating to the desired hardening temperature, the workpiece must then be quenched. During quenching, a quenching fluid (e.g., water) is applied to the workpiece through the nozzle.

However, during quenching, a relatively stable vapor layer may form between the nozzle and the workpiece. This is also known as the Leidenfrost effect. Here, a quenching fluid is applied to the hot, inductively heated surface of the workpiece, wherein a rapid primary evaporation is achieved, after which the quenching fluid floats or slides on the induced steam cushion (vapor cushion). Thus, the quenching fluid is no longer able to reach the workpiece and cool the workpiece, but rather slides over the steam cushion on the hot material of the workpiece. This effect prolongs the cooling of the workpiece in the shortest possible time. Therefore, after quenching, an excessively soft region may appear in the structure of the hardened material. This effect may be particularly produced in induction feed hardening systems due to the movement of the quench nozzle.

The steam pad can be pierced by applying quench fluid at a higher pressure, thereby avoiding the above-described effects. In this way, however, very punctiform cooling zones are produced, since the quenching fluid is not distributed uniformly, but rather due to the high pressure with the individual jets impinging on the surface to be cooled and bouncing off there again.

Furthermore, by having the nozzle at a very large throw distance from the workpiece, the leidenfrost effect can be avoided. Due to the large distance, the shape of the nozzle does not work and no steam cushion is formed, because the quenching fluid may be scattered arbitrarily due to the distance. However, due to the long throw distance, it is difficult to target cool a specific area of the workpiece. In addition, the consumption of the quenching fluid may increase.

Disclosure of Invention

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a quench nozzle for an induction hardening system with which improved cooling performance can be achieved.

This object is achieved by an orifice-type quench nozzle for an induction hardening system according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of nozzle cavities.

An orifice-type quench nozzle for an induction hardening system includes a plurality of nozzle orifices through which a quench fluid (e.g., water) can be applied to a workpiece to be quenched. Here, the nozzle orifices are arranged in rows and columns (/ in rows and columns) on the surface of the quench nozzle. Now, in order to prevent the formation of a vapor layer between the workpiece to be quenched or cooled and the orifice-type quenching nozzle, each nozzle orifice is formed to be equidistant from each immediately adjacent nozzle orifice in each direction. Here, it should be noted that in at least one first region of the orifice-type quench nozzle, the nozzle orifices are arranged in rows and columns on the surface of the quench nozzle, wherein in this region each nozzle orifice is formed with an equal distance in each direction from each directly adjacent nozzle orifice. In addition, it is also possible to have a second region, for example an edge region or a transition region, in which the nozzle orifices are configured differently.

Due to this arrangement of the nozzle orifices relative to each other, the resulting vapor is either discharged from the region between the workpiece to be quenched and the orifice-type quenching nozzle, or is pushed out from between the workpiece to be quenched and the orifice-type quenching nozzle by a jet of quenching fluid. Since the resulting vapor cannot remain in this region like a vapor pad, the quenching fluid can then reach the workpiece and cool its surface. Thus, the quenching process is shortened compared to the existing nozzle, and thus the cooling performance is improved. In addition, owing to this arrangement, the old, already heated quenching fluid can also flow out better.

In addition, with such a design of the nozzle orifice, a short, minimal distance between the orifice-type quench nozzle and the workpiece can be achieved, in particular, the distance is 2mm to 5 mm. In this case, the quenching fluid can be applied very uniformly to the workpiece.

The quench nozzle can be made of plastic (e.g., PA12) or metal (e.g., 1.4404). In particular, the temperature of the quenching fluid may be taken into account during the selection of the material. Preferably, the quenching nozzle may be produced by a 3D printing method.

According to another embodiment, for all nozzle orifices, two nozzle orifices of a first row which are adjacent to each other form an equilateral triangle with the nozzle orifices of an adjacent second row which are arranged between the two nozzle orifices of the first row. Due to this configuration, interference of the fluid jets emerging from the nozzle orifices with respect to each other can be prevented. Due to the configuration of the individual nozzle orifices, the risk of interaction between the fluid jets of the individual nozzle orifices is low. In this way, it is also possible to avoid the occurrence of turbulent flow of the quenching fluid in the contact region between the orifice-type quenching nozzle and the workpiece to be quenched. The manner described above also improves cooling performance, as such turbulence may delay and/or alter the impingement of the quench fluid on the workpiece.

According to another embodiment, the distance between two nozzle orifices in the column direction is at least twice the distance between two nozzle orifices in the row direction. Due to this distance and the relative arrangement of the nozzle orifices with respect to each other, the risk of interaction between the individual nozzle orifices or quenching fluids emerging from the nozzle orifices can also be avoided. Thereby, the occurrence of turbulent flow of the quenching fluid in the contact region between the workpiece to be quenched and the orifice-type quenching nozzle is reduced.

According to another embodiment, the size and/or shape and/or number of the nozzle orifices varies (/ varies) over the surface of the quench nozzle. In particular, the quenching nozzle may comprise at least one first region in which the size and/or shape and/or number of the nozzle orifices is adapted (/ adapted) such that a first quenching fluid discharge with a first fluid volume and/or first fluid velocity is achieved, and at least one second region in which the size and/or shape and/or number of the nozzle orifices is adapted such that a second quenching fluid discharge with a second fluid volume and/or second fluid velocity is achieved. Due to this variable configuration of the nozzle orifices, the cooling rate can be varied over various (/ different) regions of the workpiece to be quenched. The workpiece can have different hardnesses due to different cooling rates at different regions. In addition, the cooling rate may be adapted to the size and/or thickness of different regions of the workpiece. For example, the flange and raceway of the ring may be hardened at the same time. These may have the same or different hardnesses. This can be achieved in a single hardening and cooling process.

According to another embodiment, at least one spacer is provided on the surface of the quenching nozzle facing the workpiece to be quenched; the spacer is configured to define a minimum spacing between the quench nozzle and a workpiece to be quenched. In this way, a minimum distance between the quenching nozzle and the workpiece to be quenched can be ensured in each case. The minimum distance ensures that steam cushions which may be generated on the workpiece to be quenched can flow out.

According to another embodiment, the quench nozzle comprises nub-like projections (nub-shaped elevation) on at least one, preferably all, of the nozzle orifices, in which the nozzle orifices are formed. Due to this nubbed protrusion, the quench fluid is discharged from the nozzle orifice in a jet that is as straight as possible. This can further reduce the occurrence of turbulent flow of the quench fluid between the individual nozzle orifices. Thus, a defined discharge direction may be achieved, rather than dispersing the mist of quench fluid towards different directions.

According to another embodiment, the quench nozzle is configured for quenching a bearing ring to be induction hardened and comprises a first and a second flat quench surface set at an angle relative to each other and connected to each other by a connecting surface, wherein each of the first, second and connecting surfaces comprises a plurality of nozzle orifices. Due to the angled arrangement of the two quench surfaces, an optimal guidance of the quench nozzle along the bearing ring can be ensured. The shape of the quenching nozzle is adapted to match the shape of the bearing ring as precisely as possible. In particular, the first flat quenching surface is configured for quenching the raceway of the bearing ring to be induction hardened and the connecting surface is configured for quenching the retaining flange of the bearing ring to be induction hardened. In this way, workpieces of different materials, sizes, shapes, etc. can be quenched, wherein the quenching nozzles or the quenching fluid dispersion can be adjusted or directed accordingly. Due to the different surfaces, the quenching nozzle can be guided very close along the workpiece or different regions of the workpiece, and the cooling of these regions can be optimally adjusted at the same time. In particular, the quench fluid nozzle is suitable for large workpieces.

According to another aspect, an induction hardening system is presented, comprising at least one quench nozzle as described above. If multiple quench nozzles are used, multiple regions of a single workpiece may be quenched simultaneously. In particular, the feed hardening system may operate with the quench nozzle(s) moving, for example, in a direction opposite the electrical conductor that heats the workpiece. Other directions of motion (e.g., oscillating directions of motion) are also possible.

Further advantages and advantageous embodiments are indicated in the description, the drawings and the claims. Here, in particular, the combinations of features indicated in the description and the drawings are merely exemplary, so that the features can also be presented individually or in other combinations.

In the following, the invention will be described in more detail using exemplary embodiments depicted in the drawings. Here, the exemplary embodiments and combinations shown in the exemplary embodiments are merely exemplary and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. The scope is only limited by the pending claims.

Drawings

FIG. 1 shows a perspective plan view of a quench nozzle; and

fig. 2 shows an enlarged view of a detail of the quench nozzle of fig. 1.

In the following, identical or functionally equivalent elements are denoted by the same reference numerals.

1 quenching nozzle

2 nozzle orifice

4 region

6 region

8 region

10 spacer

12 convex

14 opening

a, b distance

d distance

D triangle

Rows R, R1, R2

S column

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a quenching nozzle (quenching nozzle)1, and fig. 2 shows an enlarged detail of the quenching nozzle 1 of fig. 1. The quench nozzle 1 includes a plurality of nozzle orifices 2 through which a quench fluid can be applied to a workpiece (not shown) to be quenched. Here, the nozzle orifices 2 are arranged in rows R and columns (/ in rows R and columns S) on the surface of the quench nozzle 1.

In order to prevent the generation of a steam cushion (vapor cushion) when the quenching fluid contacts the workpiece to be quenched, which prevents the subsequent quenching fluid from reaching the workpiece to be quenched, the nozzle orifices 2 are arranged in the herein proposed quenching nozzle 1 such that each nozzle orifice 2 is formed at an equal distance in each direction from each directly adjacent nozzle orifice 2. This means that the distance d from each nozzle orifice to each directly adjacent nozzle orifice 2 is the same.

Due to this arrangement of the nozzle orifices 2, the vapour of the quenching fluid, which is generated during the impingement of the quenching fluid on the workpiece, is discharged from the region between the workpiece to be quenched and the quenching nozzle 1, or is pressed out of this region by the jet of quenching fluid. The steam generated cannot remain as a steam cushion, with the result that subsequent quenching fluid can reach the workpiece and cool its surface. Due to this arrangement of the nozzle orifices 2, it is also possible to guide the quench nozzles 1 as close as possible to the workpiece, in particular at a minimum distance of 2mm to 5 mm.

Furthermore, the two nozzle orifices 2 of the first row R1 which are adjacent to each other and the nozzle orifices of the adjacent second row R which are arranged between the two nozzle orifices 2 of the first row R1 form an equilateral triangle D. Thanks to this configuration, it is possible to prevent the fluid jets emerging from the nozzle orifices 2 from interfering with each other. Interaction between the fluid jets can be avoided and turbulence of the quenching fluid in the contact area between the quenching nozzle 1 and the workpiece to be quenched can be avoided.

Further, the pitch a of the two nozzle orifices 2 in the column direction S is twice the pitch b of the two nozzle orifices 2 in the row direction R. Due to these spacings a, b and the relative arrangement of the nozzle orifices 2 with respect to one another, the risk of interaction between the individual nozzle orifices 2 or quenching fluid emerging therefrom is avoided.

Preferably, the quench nozzle 1 may comprise a plurality of zones 4, 6, 8 which may vary (/ differ) in size and/or shape and/or number of nozzle orifices 2. In this way, the quenching nozzle 1 can adapt the quenching fluid discharge in the different zones 4, 6, 8 to the workpiece. The quench fluid discharge may vary (/ differ) in fluid volume and/or fluid velocity. In this way, due to the variable configuration of the nozzle orifices 2, the cooling rate can be varied over various (/ different) regions of the workpiece to be quenched.

The areas 4, 8 and the area 6 located between them can be set at an angle relative to each other, wherein the area 6 represents a connecting surface between the two areas 4, 8 set at an angle relative to each other. Due to the angled positioning of the two regions or quench surfaces 4, 8, an optimal guidance of the quench nozzle 1 along the workpiece (e.g. bearing ring) can be ensured. Thus, the shape of the quench nozzle 1 can be adapted to the shape of, for example, a bearing ring.

The quench nozzle 1 may also include one or more spacers 10. This serves to define a minimum distance between the quenching nozzle 1 and the workpiece to be quenched. This minimum distance ensures that steam cushions which may be generated on the workpiece to be quenched can flow out.

The quenching nozzle 1 of fig. 1 is moved in the row direction R of the row relative to the workpiece to be quenched. However, it is also possible to arrange the nozzle orifices in rows R and columns S on the quenching nozzle such that the quenching nozzle moves in the column direction S relative to the workpiece to be quenched. This arrangement is advantageous because the distance of the orifices in the row direction R, which is perpendicular to the direction of motion, is small, and the next row is offset (staggered) vertically with respect to the direction of motion by half the pitch of the adjacent orifices, so that a very evenly distributed quench flow impinges on the workpiece. Furthermore, since the same point also spans the next nozzle orifice of the column, the larger spacing of the orifices in the column direction S is compensated by the motion in the column direction.

As shown in fig. 2, the nozzle orifice 2 may include a nub-like projection (/ center-like projection) (nub-shape projection) 12. In the middle of the small block-shaped protrusion 12, an opening 14 is provided for discharging the quenching fluid. Due to the nubby projections 12, the quench fluid is discharged from the nozzle orifice 2 in a jet which is as straight as possible. Due to this straight discharge of the quenching fluid, a defined discharge direction can be achieved, whereby the occurrence of turbulence of the quenching fluid between the individual nozzle orifices 2 can be further reduced.

Due to the specific arrangement of the quench nozzles and the nozzle orifices relative to each other presented herein, turbulence or disturbance of the quench fluid between the nozzle orifices can be prevented. Furthermore, steam which may be generated during the impingement of the quenching fluid on the workpiece to be quenched can flow out better. Thereby enabling an improved cooling rate of the workpiece.