0d; 29, 1946-
I I ‘L. J. STEVENSON '_ ET AL .
2,410,134
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FLAME HARDENING
Filed Jan. 16, 1.942
6 Sheets-Sheet 1
‘ Oct. 29, 1946.
L. J. STEVENSON ETAL ‘
'
‘2,410,134 _
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FLAME HARDENING
Filed Jan. '16; 1942
e Sheéts-Sheet 2
Ont‘; '29, 1946.
L.'J. STEVENSON ETAL
2.4-10,134
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR- FLAME HARDENING
Filed Jan. 16, 1942
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Oct 29, 1946. I
'
|_. J. sTEvENsbN ET AL
'
2,410,134
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FLAMEHARDENING
Filed Jan. 16, 1942
6 Sheets-Sheet 5
' '
' Od- 29, 1946-
‘L. J. STEVENSON ETAL
2,410,134 I
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FLAME HARDENING
>. Filed Jan. 16, 1942'
6 Sheets-Sheet 6
4
3
In order to eifect opposite rotation of the mov
able gear segment ‘I with relation to the bracket
29, as is sometimes necessary, as is hereinafter set
forth, there is provided an idler gear 32 which is
carried by the plate 33 mounted upon the shaft
20. When the plate 33 and shaft 20 are turned
relative to the base member 8, the master gear 25
Figure 21 is a diagrammatic plan view illus
trating the arrangement of the torch and sup
porting structure for operating on an inside sur
face of the character illustrated in Figures 17
to 20, inclusive.
In accordance with our invention, flame torches
| are positioned so as to apply the ?ame against
is moved laterally out of mesh with the gear 24
due to the eccentric mounting of the shaft 20.
, a surface 2 which it is desired to flame harden.
The torches I may be of any suitable or desirable » a
During this rotation the idler gear 32, which
is maintained in constant mesh with the master
gear 25, is moved into mesh with the gear 24. By
interposing the idler gear 32 in the gear train
construction and preferably include the means
for directing the flame indicated at 3 against the
surface and also to direct against the surface a
quenching liquid or ?uid as indicated at 4 to
between the master gear 25 and gear 24, the rela
tive directions ofrotation of the bracket 29 and
quench the surface as the‘ torches are moved
along the surface 2. These torches may be. of
any suitable or desirable construction.
The torches I are preferably supported upon
rods 5 held within brackets 6.
‘
' ' '
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segment 1 are reversed.
‘
Our invention contemplates the utilization of
duplicate supporting devices, and it is believed
that it will therefore be only essential to describe
secured to the cover 2| by screws 52 and carry
ing a pin 53. The pin 53 extends through a hole
(not shown) in the cover 2| and is received in
either the recess 54 or the recess 55 formed in
the plate 33. When the plate 33 is to be shifted,
the free end of the latch bar 5| is manually raised
to disengage the pin 53 from one of the recesses
one of the supporting devices as such description
will suffice for both.
The latch bar 5| may be
provided if desired for latching the plate 33 in
selected position. As shown in the drawings, the
latch bar 5| comprises a resilient strip of metal
_
l Thebracket 6 is fastened to a movable gear
segment ‘|._ The movable gear segment ‘I is
mounted upon a base structure 8. The base
54, 55. The plate 331s then rotated until the pin
structure 8 is secured to an extension bar 9 which
52 .enters the other recess under pressure from
isis‘lidably mountedin a slideway formed in the
the resilient latch bar, 5|. In order to provide
tiltable mount Hi. The tiltable mount I6 is se
for rotation of the‘ plate 33 there is provided a
30
cured to a trunnion H which is journaled in the
series'of notches 34 'to permit the plate to be
bracket |2. ' The bracket |2 has affixed therein
more readily grasped.
a supporting column l3. In this manner the
Means are provided for maintaining the parts
in central position, i. e., corresponding to a radial
position of the torch | with respect to the cylin
H
torches
| are supported so as to have universal
movement and sothat they may be translated to
or from the work-to be ?ameuhardened.
drical surface to be ?ame-hardened, which means
as herein illustrated consists of a ball detent de
vice 35. Means are provided for controlling the
sliding movement of the bar 9 within the mount
l0 so as to enable accurate adjustment of the
torch | a distance away from the surface of the
?a'meto be ‘hardened, which, as herein illus
trated, includes an adjustment screw 36 which is
threaded in the adjustable mount and is also
rI§hegrotation of the torch | in a horizontal
direction and at right angles to the plane of the
paper as viewed in Figure 3 is such as to effect
rotation around a center line XY which is-the line
of flame contact with the work to be ?ame hard
ened and is a distance spaced in front of the
torch I. In order to effect this rotation and to
control the direction of rotation, the following
means are provided:
threaded axially of the member 9, the pitch of
The bracket 6 is mounted on the movable gear 1 i the 'two threadsbeing different in order to per
segment ‘I. A pair of bearing rollers M are ro
mit accuracy of control on the turning of the
tatably mounted upon spindles l5 and I6 ?xed
upon the base structure 8 and cooperate with the
upper and lower bearings l1 and I8 to rotatably
support the gear segment 1. As thus mounted
'
on the rollers l4 and bearings I‘! and I8 the
gear segment ‘I is adapted to have limited arcuate
movement about the axis XY. H
screw 36. Means are also provided for control
ling the tilt of the torch | in order to permit the
same to be aligned with the surface to be ?ame
hardened, which means as herein illustrated in
cludes a leveling screw 31 which is journaled in
the tiltable mount l0 and carries a worm 38
adapted to mesh with thelworm segment 39.
The, worm segment 39 is secured to the trun
,
»A pair of shafts l9 and’ 25 are mounted be—
tween the base member 8 and a cover member
nion l|.
2|. Fixed upon the shaft I9 is a spur gear 22
which is adapted to mesh with the spur gear seg
'
Means are provided for supporting the ?ame
hardening means which may be of any suitable
ment23~ carried upon the gear segment ‘i. 7 Also
form as, for example, illustrated in Figure 4. The
?xed 'upon the shaft H! is a second spurv gear
‘supporting
means includes a stationary frame 40
24 which is adapted to mesh with a master‘gear 60 ‘which is‘ pivotally connected as indicated at 4|
25 mounted upon the eccentric portion 25 of the
to a base plate 42.‘ The base plate 42 normally
rests upon the frame structure 40 but may be tilt
'A radially extending arm 21 is rotatably
ed about the pivot 4| in the event it is desired _
mounted upon said eccentric portion of the shaft
to rotate the torches or workpiece 2 about an axis
65
25 and ?xed relative to the‘ master gear as, for
other'than vertical.
.
example, by the welding indicated at 28. vThis
Riotatably mounted upon the base plate 42 are
arm carries at its outer end an arcuate bracket
two independent rings 43 and 44 and an annular
29 provided with apair of contact pieces 30 and
table 45 providedwith a central opening 46. The
3|. vWhen the bracket 29 is shifted clockwise as
workpiece W is supported upon the table 45 with
viewed. in Figure 2, the ‘master gear 25 is rotated
the axis of the workpiece W coincident with the
to turn the gears-24 and 22.counter-clockwise
rotary
axis of the table 45.
and hence the movable gear segment 1 to' turn
shaft
20.
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,
r
,
clockwise about the axis XY. ’ In thisarrang'e
'
p “(The torch mechanism’ supporting columns |3
are mounted upon the intermediate rings 43 and
mentrotation of the bracket 29 and movable gear
75
segment Tare in the same direction. .‘ n >
l
7
table 5415 ma'j' e independently rotated by‘ any
convenient
segments?! vin opposite directions and the quench
streams are .directedlagainst the work. Aswthe
movable rgea'r- segments ‘I separate, ‘the coaction
AsindicatedfinFigure 14, "in
“dependent; meters 541 are provided’ for‘ driving
fthese rings-through suitable gearin'g's. ‘These
CI'notors linay ‘be either hydraulic or electric, ire
quirement beingthat a precise control of the
relative irotatinfg speeds I'o'f the *membersle, 44
ibe’tween theicontact :pieces £31 causes turning mo
Etion :‘ofithearcuate ‘brackets :29 and :this in turn
:causes pivotal movement of the torches :I. This
pivotal émovement of :each :torch :occurs about the
."zone of contact of :the ‘flame and hence the trav
ia‘néi-‘45lbelimaii-itained.
icipera'tien‘rerour apparatus [for
_ . name
' harden
v:ersingspeedxo-f'ithe ?ame along :the workpieceris
"in'g'is: The two torches liare progressed in oppo
Is'it‘e directions around the 'i'surlface 12 to be hard
10 unaif?tedibythe :pivotal movement ‘of the torch.
- *Thezchange in the ‘angle of ‘impingement of
‘ eneo; ‘each torch lpassin'githrough one-half revo
the ?ames against theaworkiis :therefore accom
ilfution 'Iw'ith ‘respect :to semi-cylindrical :suria‘ce.
plished automatically ‘incident to the separation
‘Referring to Figures 5 >toi1i0,iinclusive;the torches
ioi the ;base members ‘:‘I and r‘! ‘,of the separate
areii-nitiallyldirectedso that their'heating ?ames 15 torch-marrying .members. It is apparent that
I3 iineeti'alon'g a common?line upon the surface'of
the vchange in ‘angle of impingement ‘is :from .a
1the workpiece W. Movement -of the ‘torches ‘in
lagging direction ‘toward a direction radial ito
opposite directions is Llthen ‘commenced’ and
the work surface ‘12.’
. I "
.
streams of quenching ?uid 4 are immediately
'tWh'en'ithe :base members I’? iofithe two ltorches
directed 'fr'omthe torches to the ‘surface-‘heated 20 ‘separate . sufficiently so 7 that :the torches :i :assume
Tibyit‘he ?ames. As the Ltorchis movedirelativeto
iazradial position, the pin £418 of the .contact apiece
the‘ surface 12, the angle of impingement 10f the
imovesrout .of itheslot 6Q of the .‘conta'ctpiece
flames “ is automatically ‘changed 'until the direc
1%, -;thereby:separating the contact pieces '30 and
3| and terminating pivotal movement. :of the
‘tion is ' substantially normal to ‘the surface 52 as
"indicated in'Figures .6, 7 and_8.
'25 <torc'hes. 'FL’he-two ‘torches :I :then travel iat'u'ni
~When .thertorches.approacheach other on the
iiorm :speed in opposite directions around the
=,W;orkpiece. “When the two :torches approach
side :of: ‘the workpiece ‘opposite from ‘the start
ing point, the'angle ofsimpingemen‘t of the I?ames
eachaoth‘e'r, .thetpin 148 -;of the (other contact piece
‘is again automaticallyxchanged so‘tha't'thei?ames
3! enters the slot 49 on the other contact apiece
may ?nally meet, 01153.‘.880011dlil'16'l1POI1 thesur
:35), thereby initiating ‘further emotion of the
face of the 'workpieceW. When ‘the ?nal posi 30
:arcuate brackets 29 to change the angle :of the
-~?ameaimpingementrb_y progressively rotating the
tion is :izeac'hed ' (Figure 9) ,fthe T?ames ‘t3 . are :im
niediately extinguished and relative ‘movement
‘of :the'rtorches is stopped but the quenching
‘streams e are not "shut off :until :the "?nal heated
portion has been quenched ("Figure 10). The
torches it 'toward each other. This change in
dangleiof ‘flame impingement ‘:is from a radial
:directionv to :a ileading .direction. ’When ‘the
'angle- of-the quenching streams “at the I?nal / posi- ,
textinguishes the=?ames and :stops relative move
-ment by stopping the motors 74.1. The quench
:flames :3 meet .on :a common line, ‘the operator
tion (Figure 10) is ‘suchftha't vin ‘the ‘absence of
"heating ?ames? theilast line-I01‘ heating receives an
'YStI'GQmST'QTaI‘B "allowed'to continue 'for a few sec
adequate quench, that is, es the '?ames » converge 40 vonds in 'orderito'quench the last-heated portion .
TGf the." surface :of :the workpiece 1W.
toward eachother, so do ‘the v‘quenching streams.
lIt ‘will-beiapparent from the foregoing that
. iltiiwi'll ‘:be apparent from the foregoingthat _
the processes illustrated in Figures 5 to 10, in
fas’the' cylindrical surface vis uniformly ‘heated
clusive, :that. ‘the work‘ remains, stationary" ‘‘and
around ‘its “entire ‘periphery ."that no ‘ soft Jsp'ots
fremjainatthe ‘initial ‘or finaL‘positions since at 45 ;therefore v:thegtorches reach ; a {?nal position a on
(the vopp'ositezsi‘de 10f @theawork vf'frorn the starting
"both of these points the ‘metal is ‘?rst heated
fpointrrIf ithB workpiece is large, ‘:the operator
and then?quenched-asat substantially any other
‘may ?have di?iculty in vobserving the approach
.point upon .fthesurface. .At'no (point upon the
:Tof
:the .torches .on the .‘far side without leaving
‘surface is the previously ?ame hardenedwpor
near'sthe ‘controls. ‘In order to over
tion of thesurfacesubjected'to a-secondt-heat 50~his:p.osition
comezthis'di?iculty,5the workpiece may-berota'ted
.ingwhich-vwould-cause a soft spot due to the an
.nealing-e?ect.
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5
~-while ‘F0116 :t'orch remains stationary and'the
>
iotherrrevolvesiat twice the speed/of the work. ,
i, ,As: an: illustration-50f this ' distinction, ‘ consider
vthe 'eifect :rof rhard‘ening'. a : cylindrical surface by ,
*tr'aversin'g : a‘: single torch completely around 1 its
Thisnlatter method of operation is illustrated
~55 in Figures 11.to"1§6, inclusivefand hasithes'anie
zlpel‘iphél‘y and progressiveiy'quenching the heated
“surface; ‘In' such a case-the torch would'reheat
v:thatfporftion ‘of the :surface previouslyrhardened ‘
effect- :upon‘ :the ‘workpiece 1 as the ~metliool- illus
tratedzin'iFiguresib i to 110, :inclusive, as ‘the ‘rela
tive .ispeeds 'fo‘f l'th‘e torches and ‘work are the
{same i 'This ...second I described ~method, however, '
eat‘: the‘ commencing “of/the operation, and this eorp‘ermits'itheiinitial and, ?nal positions of ‘the
ii?amerhardening to .occurin'ithe same location
‘reheating 'e?ect‘wouldsresult'in alvariatiozrfzof '
a‘hardness at‘the initial’ or starting point duecto
‘the
The
annealinge?ectof
method as illustrated
reheating.
‘diagrammatically
, ’
°
irelat‘ive'zto the operator’s location. .Thus the
"starting ~.1pbint:on the work. surface travels lone
ehalf'lirevolution while one ‘torch moves :through
‘in’ ‘Figures ‘5 to‘ 10, inclusive, ‘may ‘be‘carri'ed out .e5zaec'oinplete zrevoluticn . and "the other I'tor'ch ‘re
_with the ‘apparatus. as‘ illustrated in‘ Figures ~ 1 1''to
mainsisubstantially stationary;
.
'
*ll,.-‘inclusive. *Theijtorcheswl ‘are mounted ‘inde
'lIn'ithefoperation- of lhardenin‘g an 1 inside . sur
fpendently-upon ‘separate base {members with one
faceof a workpiece ZELa'nIeXtenSiQnIpiece 50Tis
ofthe basemembersin inverted position. The
rinsertediibetweenTth'e"member Tanidithe torch I '
contact’. pieces<39 :andii l interen'gage and thereby V770 1:‘ (Figurei? 1') . Thezpiece :50; is of such‘length» that
"control .the “angular, p'ositionpf' the >arcuate
when I the'i torch .1! is directed against; the . inside
‘JDI‘a'CKGtSfZQ'. 'In’ the initialpposition; the ?ames 6
'zsurifa'ce ofithe-sworkpiecesze, thatithe pivotal-axis
are I superimposed ;on
:comm'o-n :line sand ‘ the
_quench ls‘trean'is' 41rem'ain shut.‘ off. The. motors
Io‘flthea member ‘ .11, ‘ is . coincident @with :the zone‘zof
'i?ame'contact Olllthé inner surface-of the member
qiThe lgear .train :is. changedisoas .tto.:ins.ert
7 =1‘ ll-‘liiare then istarted-igt‘o frevo'lve the;movable_agear . :75 ‘22%;
‘2,410,134
rotate in, opposite directions.
8
following the heating devices, rendering the heat
the idler gear 32 between the master gear 25
and the gear 24 so that the arcuate bracket 29
and movable segments 1 of the two torches l
ing devices ineffective upon meetingata com
mon line element of the surface at a point re
mote from the starting point, and continuing the
The reason for
this change will be understood when it is noted
Cl
that the torches are in position to operate on the
inside surface and are therefore disposed on op
application of quenching ?uid until the entire
heated surface has been quenched.
,
5. The method of ?ame treating a cylindrical
surface of a work piece, comprising the steps-of
posite sides of the pivotal axis of the arcuate
directing two separate heating ?ames against a
member 1. Therefore, the relative movement
of the arcuate member 1 and the arcuate‘ bracket 10 common initial position on said surface, revolv
ing the work piece at a certain angular speed
29 must be opposite to that required when hard
about the axis of the cylindrical surface, revolv
ening an outside surface.
ing one of the heating ?ames about the same
The sequence of movement of the torches I
axis in the same direction at a greater angular
when hardening an inside surface is illustrated
speed while maintaining the other heating ?ame
in Figures 17 to 20, inclusive. It is obvious that
substantially stationary, and extinguishing both
the method of rotating .the work as illustrated
?ames upon their meeting at a common ?nal
in Figures ll to 16 could also be employed in
location on the surface remote from the initial
connection with the hardening of an inside sur
face. It is understood that the details of con
struction of the torches and the means for de—
livering the combustible gas and quenching ?uid
position.
'
6. In a device for hardening a closed endless
metallic surface, the combination of a pair of
heater elements each adapted to be positioned
to them may be of any suitable form, the par
adjacent a starting position on said surface,
ticular construction not forming any part of
means for traversing the heater elements simul
this invention.
Having fully described our invention, it is to 25 taneously' in opposite directions with respect to
said surface to meet at a ?nal common position,
be understood that we do not wish to be limited
and quench means associated with each heater
to the details herein set forth, but our invention
element adapted to direct a coolant against the
is of the full scope of the appended claims.
surface immediately following application of heat
We claim:
by its respective heater element.
1. The method of ?ame hardening a continuous
7. In a device for ?ame hardening a circular
surface, comprising the steps of directing two
surface, the combination of a pair of torches each
separate heating ?ames against a common po
adapted to direct ?ame against a common ele
sition on said surface, traversing the ?ames si
ment of said surface, means for progressing said
multaneously in opposite directions with respect
torches simultaneously in opposite directions
to said surface, directing streams of quenching
from said common element through one-half rev
?uid against the surface immediately following
olution with respect to said circular surface, and
application of the ?ames, changing the angle of
quench means associated with each torch each
impingement of the ?ames during the traversing
adapted to direct a coolant against the surface
movement from a lagging direction to a leading
direction, extinguishing both ?ames upon their 40 heated by its respective torch.
8. In a ?ame treating device, the combination
meeting at a common location on the surface
of a pair of torches adapted to direct separate
remote from the starting position, and continu
heating ?ames against a closed continuous sur
ing the application of quenching ?uid until the
face, each torch being supported on a carrier
entire heated portion has been quenched.
~ member'mounted for limited arcuate movement
2. The method of ?ame treating a continuous
about an axis intersecting the zone of contact
surface, comprising the steps of directing two
of the ?ame and said continuous surface, each
separate heating ?ames against a common initial
carrier member being operatively supported upon
position on said surface, traversing the ?ames
a relatively stationary base member, means for
simultaneously in opposite directions with respect
traversing said base members in opposite di
to said surface, changing the angle of impinge
rections with respect to said continuous surface
ment of the ?ames during the traversing move
whereby the heating'?ames, diverge from a com
ment from a lagging direction to a leading direc
mon starting position, means including a con
tion, and extinguishing both ?ames upon their
trol element pivotally mounted on each base mem
meeting at a common ?nal location on the surface
. ber adapted to control arcuate movement of its
remote from the starting position.
respective carrier member, and interengaging
3. The method of ?ame hardening a continu
means associated with the control elements
ous metallic surface, comprising the steps of di
adapted to turn. the carrier members and there
recting two separate heating ?ames against ‘ a
by change the angle of impingement of the ?ames
single line element of the surface, traversing the
incident to relative traversing movement of the
?ames simultaneously in opposite directions with
base members, said interengaging means being
respect to said surface, directing streams of
quenching ?uid against the surface immediately
following application of the ?ames, extinguishing
both ?ames upon their meeting at a common line
element of the surface at a point remote from .
the starting point, and continuing‘the application
of quenchinng ?uid until the entire heatedv sur
face has been quenched.
‘
4. The method of heat treating a continuous
operable to direct said separate heating ?ames
against a singlecommon ?nal position on said
continuous surface.
'
,
9. In a ?ame treating device, the combination
of a pair of torches adapted to direct separate
heating ?ames against a, common line element-of
a cylindrical surface, each torch being supported
on a carrier member mounted for limited arou
surface, comprising the steps of directing two 70 ate movement about an axis substantially coin
cident with the line contact of the ?ame and said
separate heating devices against a single line
surface, each carrier member being operatively
element of the surface, traversing the heating
supported on a base member, means for revolv
devices simultaneously in opposite directions with
ing
the base members about the axis of the cylin
respect. to: said surface, directing streams of
"quenching ?uid against the surface inmaediately 75 drical surface in opposite directions with respect
25410,,1'34
to. said& common; linev element‘ of said: surface,
means. including; a. control: element pivotally
heated portions; of said- path; to quench the same;
continuing; the relative movement, of said heat
mounted on each.’ base- member ‘adapted: to. ' con
sources, followed‘ at a- predetermined; distance by
said- moving quenching ?uid sources; until said
heat sources create a unitary terminal zone,_.at
trol arcuate movement: ct its.‘ respective carrier
member; and: inter'engaging means associated
hardening temperature discontinuihgthe appli
with the control: elements adapted: to. turn the
carrier members: and: thereby change ‘the. angle
cation of vheat and continuing the application: oi
saidi quenching: ?uid until, they simultaneouly ac
of impingement‘ o?‘the'?a'mes from. a lagging di
rection to a leading direction, saidinterengaging
to. quench said. terminal: heated zone.
means being ‘automatically. actuated incident to
the. relative: movement of? the-base members, and
peripheral path around the surface of a round
object’ formed of: a quench-hardenable material;
adaptedv to . direct; the separate ‘heating: ?ame
against‘a. common lineielementzof said: surface
incidentrto, movement of‘ the carrier members to
?nakpositiom
'
..
which consists in ‘ applying; a pair of: heat; sources
inside-by-side relation to»; apart" of the. peripheral
15 path to be treated; and thenrelatively moving said
10;.In a. device for ?ame hardening a closed
sources away from one. another along said pe
continuous surface, ‘torch? supporting apparatus
rinheral path at; such rates asto raise the tem
neratzu re o? 'suriacelayers in said; path. to; harden
ing temperature, then while said movement of
said. heat. sources: is: taking- place and- When the
having in, combination. a pair of base members, a
- carrier member mounted;v on each base. member
for: limited arcuate movement.- relative. thereto,
atorch- mounted on each. carrier member: adapted
to direct ?ame against said. closed surface, means
some have separated a. predetermined distance
imu'heins quenching?uid from a: pair of scheme
ble 0: enching; ?uid- souroes upon; the. initiallr
heated: portion; of. . dpath to quenchv the same,
for‘moving said base'members. in opposite 1 direc
tions. around said closed surface whereby the
torch. ?ames. may separate from a. common start
25
ing position and. meet at: a. common ?nal posi
tion,im-eans foriturning each carrier-member rela
operatively connecting each control element in
driving: relation with its respective gear segment,
the gear means each; being . provided with a se
lectively operable reversing: device whereby turn
ing‘movement. of the. control elementv in one di
reotion‘ may be utilized for turning the carrier
member in either direction as desired;
11. The method of‘ hardening an endless path
on the; surface of an‘ object. formed‘. of a. quench
then. continuing-the supplvof. ?uid through Said
quenching: fluid; sources and dividing the same by
causingthem. to move away.- from; one another;
one: each. tQ'f,Ql:1.o_.w\ one of’ said heat sources at
a. predetermined spacing behind‘ the same, con‘
tive to its-base memberincluding a gear segment
on. each carrier member, a. control. element pivot
all‘y mounted:- on each base member, gear means
r
1,3)- Themethod of- hardening anuninte'rrupted
v
tinuing s ‘d movements visa-id heat and quenchins ?uid spurcesxuntilvsaid heat sources join
againjin sidebar-side relation to'form a unitary
term nal zone.- of? hardening temperature, discon
tinue-1e the application. of heat; at the thermal
zone and continuing "the application of the
qnenching?uid; thereto u-ntilsaid thermal zone- is
quenched!
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a
14.. The method of?ame~hardening an unin
terrupted peripheral path around; the surface, of
a, quenchrhardenable body which consists in con,
trol'lably: applying a, pair of; separable high tem
a medial? part of the path to'be- treated and‘ then
perature ?ames to an initial merged» zone of
relatively moving said; sources away from’one
heating on the surface. or; said body until said
another along said endless path at such rates as
zone is. raised; to; hardening; vtemperature, then;
to; raise‘- the; temperature of: surface layers in said 45 translating said ?amesv away from one another at;
path to hardening temperature, then while said
a controlled rate. to raise-extending surface: paths
movement of said heat sources is taking place
on said ‘body ta hardening temperature, then
and when the same‘have separated a predeter
applying to, said‘ initial merged‘zono a pair of
separable supplies of quenching fluid ‘to-quench
mined distance impinging quenching ?uid from
apair of separable quenching ?uid sources upon
and‘ harden. said initial zone, continuingithe rela
the» initially heated‘ portion of said path toquench
tive movement of said ?ames alt-regulated- rates
the same, dividing said quenching ?uid. sources
over they surface of Said b0 3!‘ alone Paths Which
while continuing the supply’ of:v ?uid therethrough
ultimately meet at. a ?nga, merged zone onv the
by causing thesame to move relatively away from
surface.‘ or said body and: simultanewsly there
hardenable material‘, which consists; in applying
a pair‘ of‘ heat sources in side-by-side relation to
one another, one each to follow one of said heat 55 with separating said quenching ?uid sources and
sources at a predetermined spacing behind the
translating the same away from one another at
the respective rates and along the respective
same, continuing said movements until all por
paths of said respective flames and at a predeter
mined spacing thereafter, continuing the move
the application of heat and continuing the ap 60 ment of said heating ?ames and quenching sup
plication of said quenching ?uid until all heated
plies until said ?ames again merge, forming a
portions have been quenched.
?nal merged zone of heating, then removing said
12. The method of hardening an endless path
?ames from said body, and ?nally continuing the
on the surface of an object formed of a quench
application of said quenching ?uid supplies until
hardenable material, which consists in applying
they simultaneously act to quench said ?nal zone
a pair of heat sources in side by side relation to
of heating.
,
an initial zone on said path and then relatively
15. The method of ?ame-hardening an unin
moving said sourcesaway from one another along
terrupted peripheral path on the surface of a
said path at such rates as to raise the tempera
quench-hardenable body which consists in ap
ture of a surface layer in said path to hardening
plying a, pair of combined quench and ?ame sup
temperature, then while said movement of said
ply jets in a position inclining toward one an
heat sources is taking place and, when the same
other at their jet ends to a part of said path,
have moved a predetermined distance, impinging
igniting said ?ames so as to form a single initial
quenching ?uid from separate relative movable
heated zone on said path, tilting said jet ends
quenching ?uid sources upon each of the initially 75 of said jets away from one another to extend
tions of said endless path have been raised to
hardening temperature, and then discontinuing
2,410,134
11
said heated zone and to bring the quench supply
portions of said jets to bear upon the medial
portions of said heated zone, initiating a supply
of quenching ?uid through said jets, continuing
the tilting of said jets until they become sub
stantially vnormal to said path, then relatively
12
another around the periphery of said object from
a starting location to a stopping location, torches
mounted upon said supports positioned to direct
their ?ames against the periphery of said ob-"
ject, means for moving said torches from the
starting locationv to the stopping location and
means for sequentially applying quenching ?uid
to the portions of said object which have been
maintaining them in positions‘ substantially nor
heated by said ?ames.
mal to said path and while preserving a sub
18. In an apparatus for ?ame-hardening a path
stantially constant distance of the same from 10
on the surface of an object, the combination com
said path, continuing said movement while main
prising means for applying ?ames in close pro'xe
taining said ?ames and quench supplies until said
moving said jets away from one another while
jets meet to form a single terminal heated zone,
imity to one another at a point on said path,
means for causing said ?ames to separate and
extinguishing said ?ames, and continuing the
supply of quenching ?uid through said jets.
15 move relative to one another away from one an
other along said path, means for sequentially
' 16. In an apparatus for ?ame-hardening acon
impinging quenching ?uid streams ?rst against
tinuous peripheral path'on the surface of a cylin
the point of initial heating of said path, and
drical object, the combination comprising means
means for causing said streams to'separate and for mounting an object'to be treated, a right-hand
and a left-hand rotatable arm mounted for rela 20 follow said moving ?ames at a rate consonant
with the rate of said ?ames and at a predeter
tive rotation about an axis concentric with said
mined distance behind the same.
_
object, said arms being adapted to be moved to
‘19. In an apparatus for ?ame-hardening a con
angular positions in close proximity to one an
tinuous peripheral path on a cylindrical object,
other at diametrically opposed starting and stop
the combination comprising means for applying
ping locations on- opposite sides of said object,
a pair of ?ames in close proximity to one another
means for simultaneously rotating said arms rela
at an initial point on said path, means for causing
tively at predetermined rates and in opposite
said ?ames to separate and move relative to one
senses of rotation from said starting location to
another away from one another along said path
said stopping location, _a right-hand torch and a
left-hand torch having combined ?ame and 30 to a terminal area of close proximity to one an
quenching ?uid jets tiltably mounted respectively
on said movable arms, said tiltable jets being so
other, means for sequentially impinging a pair of
quenching ?uid streams ?rst against said point
of initial heating of said path, and means for
causing said streams to separate and follow said
thereof are adjacent when said arms are in start
ing position, means adapted to permit said 35 moving ?ames at a rate consonant with the rate
of said flames and at a predetermined distance
‘ torches, when in said starting position, to be tilted
behind the same.
so that the quenching ?uid jet portions thereof
20. In an apparatus for ?ame-hardening a
are withdrawn and the ?ame jet portions thereof
peripheral path on the surface of a cylindrical ob
are advanced to cause the same to converge and
to direct the ?ames therefrom’ against points in 40 ject, the combination comprising a pair of
torches adapted to‘ emit heating ?ames and
close proximity to one another on said object,
streams of quenching ?uid, movable mounting
means for separately tilting said jets apart to a
means for said torches adapted to transport the
normal operating position with respect to said
same in opposite directions around the surface
arms, means for establishing a supply of quench
ing ?uid to said quenching ?uid jet portions, 45 of an object to be treated, pivotal means between
said torches and said mounting means to permit
means for initiating relative movement of said
said torches to be tilted with respect to said
movable arms, means for tilting said jets toward
mounting means, means for tilting said torches
one another at their jet ends as‘they approach the
arranged that the quenching fluid jet portions
stopping location.
I
'
' 17; In an apparatus for'?ame-h'ardening a con
tinuous peripheral path on the surface of a cylin
drical object, the combination comprising means
for mounting an object to be treated, a pair of
torch supports relatively movable from and to one
away from one another at the outset of their‘
50 movement, and means for tilting said torches to
ward one another at the conclusion of their
movement.
LAWRENCE J. STEVENSON. ‘
LLOYD L, BABCOCK.