Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for the thermomechanical net shape finishing of precision gear tooth surfaces by controlled deformation into metastable austenitic condition. To this end, an arrangement of a fixed axis through-feed motion of workpiece and moving axes in-feed motion of two opposed rolling dies are utilized. By means of process control methods and architecture for accomplishing precision mechanical motions, thermal and environmental control and timely and automatic transfer of workpiece, high strength and high accuracy gear tooth contact surfaces are produced.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for the thermomechanical net shape finishing of precision gear tooth surfaces by controlled deformation into metastable austenitic condition. To this end, an arrangement of a fixed axis through-feed motion of workpiece and moving axes in-feed motion of two opposed rolling dies are utilized. By means of process control methods and architecture for accomplishing precision mechanical motions, thermal and environmental control and timely and automatic transfer of workpiece, high strength and high accuracy gear tooth contact surfaces are produced.

Abstract: A method for induction heating and quench hardening of helical gears provides a hardness pattern uniformly distributed to a controlled depth across and between the teeth surfaces by means of axial scanning of the workpiece and uniform quenching. Uniform quenching is achieved by directing jets of quench fluid at the workpiece toothed surface at angles horizontally offset from the radial direction.

Abstract: An induction-hardening machine for the contour hardening of machine components such as gears includes a system processor which controls thyristor power switching circuits which supply high-power signals to an RF generator. Power switching circuits include silicon controlled rectifiers of SCR's. In order to overcome the variable "on time" characteristics of SCR devices, a zero crossing detector is implemented and time periods are calculated so that the system processor activates the SCR circuits to supply power to the RF generator at predetermined times. The system processor 12 will deactivate the SCR circuits at or just prior to a zero crossing referenced from the predetermined activation time thereby effectively controlling the one time of the SCR circuits with an accuracy of up to five ten thousandths of a second. The signal produced by the RD generator is supplied to an induction heater coil which is used to case harden the gear teeth of a machine component or gear.

Abstract: There is disclosed a process and apparatus for induction hardening of the flank, root and tip surfaces of the teeth of a gear so as to provide surface-hardened layer along said surfaces. An electrically energizable inductor head carries out traversing movement along the space between a pair of adjacent gear teeth, the inductor head having an external profile substantially matching the profile of the space between the gear teeth and having the height of the inductor head less than the depth of the space between the root and tip surfaces of each pair of gear teeth.