By Contacting Only Selected Areas Of Object Patents (Class 266/258)
  • Patent number: 8512629
    Abstract: A system for heat treating an alloy steel component includes a first enclosure and a second enclosure opposed to the first enclosure. The first and second enclosures define a chamber around only a portion of the alloy steel component. The system further includes a heating element in the chamber to heat the portion of the alloy steel component. A method for heat treating an alloy steel component includes placing a first enclosure against a first side of the alloy steel component and placing a second enclosure against a second side of the alloy steel component. The method further includes creating a substantially airtight chamber around only a portion of the alloy steel component between the first and second enclosures and heating the portion of the alloy steel component inside the substantially airtight chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jason Robert Parolini, John Randolph Wood
  • Patent number: 8101120
    Abstract: A method and device for the heat treatment of a profile, in particular an extruded profile for aircraft. The profile may be formed by one or more different, in particular curable, aluminium alloys. The method provides that at least two regions of a profile are subjected to a different heat treatment. The device includes a first chamber that encloses a first region of a profile and a second chamber that encloses a second region of the profile, wherein different temperatures can be set in the first and second chambers. The profile has at least two regions that each have different material properties and are formed by differential heat treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Knut Juhl
  • Patent number: 7540993
    Abstract: The interior of a furnace is partitioned into two longitudinally extending and transversely adjacent zones, and one of the zones is heated to a substantially higher treatment temperature than the other of the zones, which may or may not be heated. A steel workpiece is conveyed longitudinally through the furnace with a region of the workpiece moving exclusively through the one zone and another region of the workpiece moving exclusively through the other of the zones such that the regions are heated to different temperatures. The treatment temperature in one of the zone is above the AC1 point for the workpiece and the temperature in the other of the zones is close to or below the AC1 point for the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Patrick Reinhold, Jürgen Krogmeier, Johannes Böke
  • Publication number: 20070267109
    Abstract: A fixture and method for repairing superalloy articles. The fixture ideally holds the article in place if repairs are made. An interface between the fixture and the article facilitate transfer of heat between the article and the fixture so that the article can be differentially heat treated. A portion of the article extends from the fixture. This portion of the article, which may be repaired within the fixture or may be repaired elsewhere, is solution heat treated while in the fixture so that the area extending from the fixture is solutioned, while heat is transferred from the article through the fixture, thereby preventing the temperature of the portion of the article within the fixture from being elevated so as to modify its microstructure. The solutioned portion can then be heat treated, while in the fixture, to precipitation harden it as desired.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2006
    Publication date: November 22, 2007
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas J. Kelly, Warren D. Grossklaus, Brent R. Tholke, Christine Govern Walston
  • Publication number: 20070235113
    Abstract: A method of making a shaped and hardened steel part has the steps of sequentially heating a steel plate entirely above the AC3 temperature, cooling specific regions of the heated plate without hardening the specific regions, and then engaging the heated plate with the cooled regions in a cool deforming tool with the specific regions out of contact with the deforming tool. This cools the plate where it contacts the tool and deforms the plate with the tool at the specific regions and both cooling and hardening the plate by contact with the tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2007
    Publication date: October 11, 2007
    Inventor: Hans-Jurgen Knaup
  • Patent number: 6776854
    Abstract: In the partial thermochemical vacuum treatment of metallic workpieces (1), in particular in the carburization and case hardening of workpieces (1) of case-hardening steel in a carbon-containing atmosphere, surface regions (3, 4, 5, 6) to be treated and surface regions not to be treated abut one another. In order to restrict the surface treatment to the cavities (2) of the workpieces (1) the external surface regions not to be treated are covered by reusable dismountable mould bodies (11) of a temperature-resistant material with at least one mould cavity (15). In this connection the mould body (11) consisting of a lower part (12) and an upper part (13) with openings (12b, 13b) encloses several workpieces (1) in such a way that no treatment takes place on the external surface regions of the workpieces (1). An electrically conducting mould body (11) is suitable in particular for a thermochemical treatment under the action of a plasma. Graphite or CFC is used as material for the mould bodies (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Vacuheat GmbH
    Inventors: Udo Bardelmeier, Peter Minarski
  • Publication number: 20040112485
    Abstract: The interior of a furnace is partitioned into two longitudinally extending and transversely adjacent zones, and one of the zones is heated to a substantially higher treatment temperature than the other of the zones, which may or may not be heated. A steel workpiece is conveyed longitudinally through the furnace with a region of the workpiece moving exclusively through the one zone and another region of the workpiece moving exclusively through the other of the zones such that the regions are heated to different temperatures. The treatment temperature in one of the zone is above the AC1 point for the workpiece and the temperature in the other of the zones is close to or below the AC1 point for the workpiece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2003
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Applicant: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Patrick Reinhold, Jurgen Krogmeier, Johannes Boke
  • Patent number: 6702980
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for annealing only a portion of an elongated tubular workpiece. The apparatus includes an elongated tube dimensioned to receive the workpiece so that a first end of the workpiece together with the portion to be annealed is positioned within the tube while a second end of the workpiece extends outwardly from the tube. An induction coil is disposed coaxially around only a portion of the workpiece portion exteriorly of the tube while a source of pressurized nitrogen/hydrogen is fluidly connected to the interior of the tube. In an annealing operation, the tube is filled with hydrogen/nitrogen and the induction coil is energized thus heating only the portion of the workpiece for which annealing is desired. Simultaneously, hydrogen/nitrogen flows through the tube thus cooling the workpiece and maintaining an oxygen-free environment within the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Martinrea Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard H. Riggs
  • Patent number: 6660110
    Abstract: A heat treatment assembly and heat treatment methods are disclosed for producing different microstructures in the bore and rim portions of nickel-based superalloy disks, particularly suited for gas turbine applications. The heat treatment assembly is capable of being removed from the furnace and disassembled to allow rapid fan or oil quenching of the disk. For solutioning heat treatments of the disk, temperatures higher than that of this solvus temperature of the disk are used to produce coarse grains in the rim of each disk so as to give maximum creep and dwell crack resistance at the rim service temperature. At the same time, solution temperature lower than the solvus temperature of the disk are provided to produce fine grain in the bore of the disk so as to give maximum strength and low cycle fatigue resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: John Gayda, Timothy P. Gabb, Peter T. Kantzos
  • Patent number: 6638379
    Abstract: This invention relates to a procedure for hardening the bearing surfaces (H1,H2,H3,H4) of a shaft or axle, in particular a crankshaft (2) or camshaft, in which the bearing surfaces (H1-H4) to be hardened are hardened sequentially with the shaft or axle turning around their longitudinal axis (L) by means of a heating and quenching device (3), in which the distortion of the shaft or axle that arises in the area of the respective bearing surface (H1) during the course of hardening is determined, in which the shaft or axle is supported by at least one supporting device (9) during hardening of a bearing surface (H1-H6), which is placed against a previously hardened bearing surface (H1), and in which the setting of the supporting device (9) is regulated taking into account the distortion determined for the bearing surface (H1), against which the supporting device (9) is placed, and a device which enables hardening of crankshafts with a minimal distortion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Elotherm GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Schulte, Hans-Jürgen Leissner, Waldemar Gezarzick
  • Patent number: 6632302
    Abstract: Apparatus for heat treating a cutting tool comprises a furnace and a tool holder within the furnace adapted to receive therein a first portion of the tool, a second portion of the tool projecting from the tool holder, the second portion of the tool being directly exposed to radiant heat from at least one radiant heating element within the furnace with the first portion of the tool being shielded from the radiant heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Inventors: Geoffrey Philip Fisher, Richard Mark Lill, Edgar Dabill, Martin John Monaghan, Jonathan Clifford Oates, Graham Monteith Smith
  • Patent number: 6394793
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for cooling heat-treated metallic work pieces, particularly jet engine components that are normally round in shape, have a complex radial cross-section, and are subject to subsequent machining steps, includes a set of concentric air quench delivery tubes for directing a compressed air quench onto specified areas of the work piece for cooling. A first set of tubes is located above the work piece, and a second set of tubes is located below the work piece. The tubes include a multiplicity of bores around their circumference. The air quench tubes are placed in close proximity to the relatively thicker and more massive portion of the work piece, while the thinner and less massive portions are allowed to cool in normal ambient air, thereby cooling the entire part at a substantially uniform rate. Shields placed at specified locations blocks the flow of compressed air and redirect it away from the thin portions of the part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Ladish Company, Incorporated
    Inventor: Gene Bunge
  • Publication number: 20020043300
    Abstract: When a nitride film is formed on a substrate containing at least metallic aluminum, a fluctuation in forming a nitride film can be prevented, or the formation of the nitride film can be accelerated. A substrate containing at least metallic aluminum is subjected to a heating treatment in vacuum of 10−3 torrs or less, and subsequently it is subjected to a heating/nitriding treatment in an atmosphere (5) containing at least nitrogen. During the heating/nitriding treatment, porous bodies (3) and (4) through which nitrogen atoms-containing gases (A) and (B) can flow are contacted with the atmosphere (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2001
    Publication date: April 18, 2002
    Applicant: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Morimichi Watanabe, Shinji Kawasaki, Takahiro Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 5527020
    Abstract: Apparatus for differentially heat treating a turbine disk of a gas turbine engine so as to produce a dual property superalloy disk. The apparatus enables a process to achieve substantially uniform yet different temperatures in the rim and hub of the disk during heat treatment, so as to attain specific and different properties for the rim and hub. The process includes the steps of heat treating the entire disk to achieve a uniform structure having a fine grain size and fine precipitates. A device for heating the rim of the disk is then disposed at the disk's periphery, such that the rim is maintained at a substantially uniform temperature above the gamma prime solvus temperature of the superalloy so as to dissolve gamma prime precipitates present in the rim and cause grain growth in the rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Swami Ganesh, Ronald G. Tolbert
  • Patent number: 5452882
    Abstract: For quenching heated metallic work pieces with a quenching intensity that lies in the region of H values from 0.2 to 4, which is typical for oil or water quenching, a cooling gas is used as the quenching medium in the form of discrete jet streams issuing from a nozzle field and impinging on the work piece surface to be cooled. With limiting of the blower power for the cooling gas serving a predetermined maximum limit of about 1000 kW per square meter of nozzle field the quenching intensity, with suitable selection of gas jet parameters, in particular the gas velocity w, the gas pressure p, the gas jet cross-section and the number of impinging jets per unit of surface is brought to an H value between 0.2 and 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1995
    Inventor: Joachim Wunning
  • Patent number: 5360203
    Abstract: A pressure pad comprises a plenum chamber, adapted to be conneceted to a pressurized-fluid supply means, having a pair of parallel slit nozzles formed in a top wall, and the chamber is arranged underneath a path of a strip. The plenum chamber is provided with holes in the top wall and at least two obstructions on the top wall. The holes are arranged on imaginary lines that extend between the nozzles on both sides of the top wall and central portions thereof point to adjacent edges of the path. Each of the obstructions comprises at least one obstructing wall arranged on either side of one of the imaginary lines. The lines may have V-, Arch- or Bracket-shaped configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1994
    Assignee: Chugai Ro Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadashi Yamamoto, Takao Seno, Yoshito Sakaguchi
  • Patent number: 5226968
    Abstract: A metal oxidation treatment apparatus to form the passivation film on the surface of the metal to be oxidized such as stainless steel or the like, comprising an oxidation furnace, a gas inlet to introduce gas into said oxidation furnace, a discharge outlet to discharge the gas from said oxidation furnace, and a heater to heat said oxidation furnace to the predetermined temperature, so that the metal to be oxidized is heated and oxidized in dry oxidation atmosphere while gas is passed in said oxidation furnace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1993
    Assignee: Tadahiro Ohmi
    Inventors: Tadahiro Ohmi, Kazuhiko Sugiyama, Fumio Nakahara, Satoshi Mizokami
  • Patent number: 5224998
    Abstract: A metal oxidation treatment apparatus to form the passivation film on the surface of the metal to be oxidized such as stainless steel or the like, comprising an oxidation furnace, a gas inlet to introduce gas into said oxidation furnace, a discharge outlet to discharge the gas from said oxidation furnace, and a heater to heat said oxidation furnace to the predetermined temperature, so that the metal to be oxidized is heated and oxidized in dry oxidation atmosphere while gas is passed in said oxidation furnace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1993
    Assignees: Tadahiro Ohmi, Sanso Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tadahiro Ohmi, Kazuhiko Sugiyama, Fumio Nakahara, Satoshi Mizokami
  • Patent number: 5052923
    Abstract: An oven for the partial heat treatment of tools, for example, twist drills, omprises a first section, which contains the heating chamber that is constantly at the desired operating temperature. A second section for the loading and unloading and the quenching is provided. Between the two sections there is arranged a transport device for the charges of tools. The oven may be in the form of a one-chamber or three-chamber vacuum oven. The oven provides a high heat transfer rate, because the heating chamber is constantly at the desired operating temperature and the heat transfer by heat radiation under vacuum is started immediately when the charge is at its final position inside the heating chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1991
    Assignee: Ipsen Industries International Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung
    Inventors: Wolfgang Peter, Bernd Edenhofer
  • Patent number: 4978109
    Abstract: A device for heat treatment of shafts or like members in a vertical position comprises a unitary construction tray. This includes an upper deck formed with support holes, optionally on a plurality of alternate levels. These holes support and center a lower end of the shafts or like members. Horizontal ribs join the holes. A lower deck of the tray also comprises holes and ribs, and pillars join the ribs of the upper and lower decks in such a way as to leave large gaps for fluid to circulate through.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 18, 1990
    Assignee: Societe Mancelle de Fonderie
    Inventor: Emile Vigouroux
  • Patent number: 4938460
    Abstract: Air quenching apparatus develops a pearlite microstructure in the head of a longitudinally travelling railroad rail as it travels under the apparatus. A primary air chamber at a controlled pressure provides air to the top and side surfaces of the rail heads. A secondary air chamber at a separately controlled pressure provides air to the shoulders of the rail heads. More than one quench unit may be used in series, in which case the pressures in the primary air chambers may progressively increase to increase the cooling rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 3, 1990
    Assignee: Chemetron-Railway Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Emmerich E. Wechselberger, Ralph S. Frost
  • Patent number: 4701127
    Abstract: A controlled environment capsule for fluxless brazing comprising an open-bottom box, an end-plate and a foil gasket sealing means. Diffusion plates are disposed within the interior of the box and connected to an external source of inert gas. The inert gas is uniformly distributed over the work piece, excluding air from the capsule and the work piece by being maintained at a positive pressure relative to the external environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1987
    Assignee: Borg-Warner Corporation
    Inventors: Kostas F. Dockus, John L. Zambrow
  • Patent number: 4572749
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for the heat treatment of a workpiece, particularly an outer race member of a universal joint, having a cavity formed therein. The apparatus includes a horizontally disposed base and at least one elongated vertically disposed post extending upwardly therefrom with a passage extending at least partially longitudinally therethrough. The workpiece is mounted on the elongated vertically disposed post by insertion of the upper end of the elongated vertically disposed post into the cavity, the passage providing a venting of the cavity during the heat treatment operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1986
    Assignee: GKN Automotive Components, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Emerson
  • Patent number: 4394195
    Abstract: In accordance with the invention, an insulating box (32) is applied to the depending portion (28) of the center plate (24) of a railway freight car. This box is provided with external insulation (27) and a cooling medium such as air or water is passed through a conduit (56) into the box to maintain the temperature of the hardened portion of the bowl sufficiently low that no transformation or softening takes place during stress relief. After stress relieving the box is removed and the cooling medium turned off. The hardness and strength of the center plate has not decreased sufficiently to require rehardening, and it is not necessary to rotate the car into another position to attach the center plate, or to reharden the center plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1983
    Assignee: ACF Industries, Incorporated
    Inventors: Harold T. Ried, Edgar C. Weaver
  • Patent number: 4355790
    Abstract: Heat-treating device for prolonging the life of a pressure vessel formed of thermally resistant material subject to time-dependent structural changes due to neutron fluence includes a heating device positionable within a pressure vessel adjacent to a wall portion thereof which is to be heat-treated; a mounting support for the heating device including a substantially cylindrical, heat-insulating holding member insertable into and removable from the pressure vessel through an opening in the pressure vessel; supply lines for an energy carrier supplying the heat; insulating means for keeping the heat away from heat-sensitive parts of the pressure vessel which are not to be heat-treated and for reducing heat losses during the heat treatment; a hollow substantially cylindrical thermal shield disposed in the pressure vessel and, with the inner peripheral surface of the pressure vessel, defining an annular gap; and a reactor chamber wherein at least part of the pressure vessel is located, the reactor chamber being ot
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1979
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1982
    Assignee: Kraftwerk Union Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Peter Krauss, Ewald Muller, Horst Porner, Robert Weber
  • Patent number: 4326897
    Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for heat treating a tubular type heat exchanger. A heat fluid is passed through the tube bundle in order to heat the exchanger from within.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1979
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1982
    Inventors: Anthony Ruhe, John A. Chitty, James H. D. Nickerson
  • Patent number: 4221972
    Abstract: An outer receptacle has at least one opening for receiving an elongated article to be treated and an inner metal container, within the receptacle, is arranged to around only that portion of the article that is to receive treatment. An electrode in and insulated from the metal container is spaced from the article so that the receptacle, container and article can be held at one potential while a different potential is applied to the electrode to produce a glow discharge and heat only that portion of the article within the metal container. The structure also provides for introducing a selected gas into the container and receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1980
    Inventors: Werner Oppel, Horst Rordorf
  • Patent number: 4160543
    Abstract: Apparatus for heat treating the weld and heat affected zone between a steel pipe and a steel connector, the apparatus including an induction coil to heat the weld and weld heat affected zone to a selected temperature. A ring shaped manifold having nozzle means to direct flow outwardly is connected with pumping means to pump gas simultaneously against the interior and exterior of the weld and heat affected zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1977
    Date of Patent: July 10, 1979
    Assignee: Hughes Tool Company
    Inventors: Herbert C. Dill, Allen E. Wisler