Abstract: An improved method for heat treating and forming Belleville washers, springs, clutch plates and the like by initially stamping or otherwise forming a flat ring, heating the ring to an elevated temperature of approximately 1700.degree. F., placing the hot ring within a die at least partially submerged in a molten salt bath and forming the ring into its final, generally frustoconical or tapered configuration while submerged in the molten salt bath. The heated formed ring is maintained in the closed die for approximately 30 seconds and is thereafter released from the die and maintained within the molten salt bath, which is maintained at a temperature of approximately 600.degree. F., for approximately one-half hour to further heat treat or austemper it to achieve the desired metallurgical properties of the steel part.

Abstract: A pusher furnace for heating workpieces has an elongate and generally horizontally extending chamber housing a plurality of trays to receive workpieces thereon to be heated within the chamber. The chamber is divided into at least two generally parallel rows of a plurality of trays and pusher mechanisms are provided adjacent each end of the chamber to push the trays along the rows to circulate them within the chamber. In one embodiment, the chamber is divided into three rows of trays wherein a pusher mechanism alternately transfers work trays from one row to the other rows. Each work tray is provided with a plurality of opposed slots at the upper and lower surface thereof so that work engaging fingers can be inserted into the slots for engaging underneath the workpieces for transfer to and from the furnace.

Abstract: A method and press for uniformly quenching a heated annular workpiece while fixturing the workpiece to prevent distortion during quenching. The press has a conically shaped lower die for receiving a workpiece to be quenched thereon and a vertically reciprocable conically shaped upper die for clamping and fixturing a workpiece between them. The press has a generally cylindrical quench ring carried by the upper die for engaging against the lower die to form a chamber around the workpiece to immerse the workpiece in quenching fluid. The lower die has a plurality of spaced apart inlets for uniformly distributing quenching fluid around the workpiece and which are preferably angled relative to the center axis of the lower die for producing a swirling turbulent flow of fluid within the chamber to more rapidly and uniformly quench the workpiece.

Abstract: A gondola carrying and dumping device with a frame pivotally carrying a sub-frame having a pair of lift forks with tines for carrying a gondola and a slidable cover over the gondola for controlling the dumping of workpieces from within the gondola. A pair of actuators pivotally move the sub-frame and gondola, and a third actuator retracts the cover to control dumping of workpieces from the gondola.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for loading forming dies with a mold blanket which comprises providing a lay-up station with simulated die forms outside the forming dies where the mold blanket material may be distributed as it will be in the die and providing a pick-up assembly composed of a plurality of pins distributed around the blanket which pins are pressed in to perforate the blanket and certain of the pins are moved transversely to others to tension the blanket whereby the blanket may be lifted bodily, moved into a die press, and dropped on to the forming dies prior to the pressing cycle.