Abstract: The invention provides a method for the inductive surface layer hardening of a surface running around an annular component of a hardenable steel, which achieves uniform and uninterrupted hardening. For this purpose, a) an initial zone of the surface is surface layer hardened by it being brought to hardening temperature by means of an inductor and being quenched with a spray. b) The surface is then hardened by means of a stationarily arranged inductor arrangement and a movably arranged inductor arrangement, which each comprise a leading inductor for preheating the region of the surface covered by it, a trailing inductor offset in the direction of the initial zone for finish-heating the pre-heated region to the hardening temperature and a spray for quenching the finish-heated region, wherein the movable inductor arrangement is moved along the surface and at the same time the annular component rotates about an axis of rotation in order to move the surface to be hardened along the stationary inductor arrangement.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the inductive surface layer hardening of a surface which runs around an annular component and has an initial zone, an end zone and two intermediate zones extending between the initial zone and the end zone. The initial zone is brought to hardening temperature by an inductor and quenched by a spray. Subsequently, an inductor arrangement is moved in each case along the intermediate zone to the end zone. Each inductor arrangement includes a leading inductor for preheating the region covered by it, a trailing inductor for finish-heating the preheated region and a spray for quenching the finish-heated region. After the inductor arrangements are located at a certain distance from the initial zone, the leading inductor of at least one of the inductor arrangements is moved in the direction of the end zone at an increased feed rate compared to the trailing inductor.