Thermal treatment method and installation for the implementation of this method
US5766382A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 12, 1996 |
| Grant date | Jun 16, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 12, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC21D9/0025
- WIPO fieldMaterials, metallurgy
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A thermal treatment installation for treating and quenching pieces (22) of small dimensions comprises a treatment line (LT) including a treatment furnace (2) for bringing the pieces to treatment temperatures, a quenching cell (4) located downstream from the furnace, and a transport apparatus for displacing the pieces along the treatment line. The pieces to be treated are placed in baskets (20) and the baskets are grouped into charges or distinct lots forming a volume (V) having a height (H) substantially less than the other dimensions (L1, L2) of the volume. The transport apparatus comprises several driving devices (DE1, DE2, DE3, DE3' AND DE4) which are individually regulated by a regulation circuit (UC) to at least three speeds including an input speed (V1), a treatment speed (V2) and an output speed (V3) to divide the treatment line into sectors so that locally along the treatment line the baskets move at different speeds.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.