High-performance heat treatment equipment for rare earth alloy conductor

Abstract

The invention relates to high-performance heat treatment equipment for a rare earth alloy conductor, and relates to the technical field of heat treatment equipment, and the high-performance heat treatment equipment comprises a heat treatment cavity, a bearing and conveying mechanism, an atmosphere regulation and control mechanism and a linkage driving system. The bearing and conveying mechanism is used for bearing and intermittently conveying workpieces; the atmosphere regulation and control mechanism is used for regulating and controlling the atmosphere in the cavity; the linkage driving system comprises a main driving motor, a central transmission shaft, a conveying linkage module and a door control linkage module. The conveying linkage module converts continuous rotation of the center transmission shaft into intermittent rotation of the driving roller set. The door control linkage module is coupled with the sealing door opening and closing executing mechanism through a second incomplete gear assembly, so that the sealing door is driven to execute one-time opening-closing circulation and trigger atmosphere circulation in the conveying intermittent period. According to the equipment, precise mechanical linkage of conveying and atmosphere regulation and control is achieved through a single driving source, automatic and precise synchronization of the heat treatment process rhythm is ensured, the heat treatment consistency and automation level are effectively improved, and manual time sequence errors are avoided.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of heat treatment equipment technology, and in particular to a high-performance heat treatment device for rare earth alloy conductors. Background Technology

[0002] Rare earth alloy conductors have important applications in high-end electronics, power transmission, and aerospace due to their excellent conductivity, magnetic properties, and mechanical properties. Heat treatment is one of the key processes for optimizing their microstructure and improving their final properties. It typically involves stages such as heating, holding, and cooling, and is carried out under a specific protective atmosphere to prevent oxidation.

[0003] In existing technologies, the continuous batch heat treatment of rare earth alloy conductors typically employs tunnel furnaces or periodic furnaces with conveyor belts. Tunnel furnaces allow for continuous feeding and discharging, but the openings at both ends of the furnace chamber are difficult to seal completely, easily leading to leakage of the protective atmosphere and intrusion of external air. This results in uneven atmosphere within the furnace, increased oxygen content, and negatively impacts product quality. While periodic furnaces can achieve better single-pass sealing, the loading and unloading process requires manual or independent drive mechanisms to control the opening and closing of the furnace door, resulting in discontinuous process connections and low production efficiency.

[0004] To improve atmosphere uniformity, some equipment incorporates circulating fans. However, the start and stop of these fans often rely on independent electrical or pneumatic control systems, resulting in insufficient coordination with conveying and sealing operations. When the furnace door is open for workpiece repositioning, if the circulating fan continues to operate, it will exacerbate the loss of the protective atmosphere inside the furnace and the intake of cold air from outside, causing heat waste and atmosphere disturbance. If it stops completely, after closing the furnace door again, it is necessary to wait for the circulation system to re-stir the atmosphere, prolonging the process cycle and potentially leading to uneven heating of different parts of the workpiece.

[0005] In addition, in order to ensure the stability of the workpiece position during the conveying process and prevent it from shifting or tipping over due to inertia during intermittent movement, simple blocks or guide bars are often used in the prior art. However, this passive limiting method has limited effectiveness in intermittent conveying with frequent start and stop, especially in high-temperature environments where the workpiece may undergo slight deformation due to the release of thermal stress. Simple mechanical limiting cannot provide a continuous and stable constraint force.

[0006] In summary, the core problem in the existing technology is that the key actions of intermittent workpiece conveying, sealing and opening / closing of the heat treatment chamber, and circulation control of the internal protective atmosphere during the heat treatment of rare earth alloy conductors lack efficient and precise mechanical linkage. This results in waiting time between processes, poor atmosphere stability, and large heat loss, and may also affect the positional stability of the workpiece during the heat treatment process, ultimately restricting the consistency of product quality and production efficiency. Summary of the Invention

[0007] To address the aforementioned technical problems, this invention provides a high-performance heat treatment device for rare earth alloy conductors.

[0008] This invention provides a high-performance heat treatment device for rare earth alloy conductors, employing the following technical solution: A high-performance heat treatment device for rare earth alloy conductors includes a base, a heat treatment chamber, a support and conveying mechanism located within the chamber, an atmosphere control mechanism, and a linkage drive system. The support and conveying mechanism includes a driving roller group, a driven roller group, and a high-temperature resistant conveyor belt tensioned between them, used to carry and intermittently convey rare earth alloy conductor workpieces. The atmosphere control mechanism includes openable and closable sealing doors symmetrically arranged on both sides of the heat treatment chamber and an atmosphere circulation assembly linked to the sealing doors. The linkage drive system includes a main drive motor, a central transmission shaft driven by the main drive motor, and a conveying linkage module and a gate control linkage module connected to the central transmission shaft. The conveying linkage module converts the rotational motion of the central transmission shaft into the intermittent rotational motion of the driving roller group. The gate control linkage module is mechanically coupled to the opening and closing actuator of the sealing door through a second incomplete gear assembly or eccentric wheel arranged on the central transmission shaft, so that the sealing door performs one opening-closing cycle, and after closing, triggers the atmosphere circulation assembly to work during the intermittent period when the driving roller group is stationary.

[0009] Preferably, the conveying linkage module includes a first incomplete gear fixed on the central drive shaft, and a driven full gear meshing with the first incomplete gear and mounted on the drive shaft of the driving roller assembly; the tooth arc length of the first incomplete gear matches the number of teeth of the driven full gear, so that when the central drive shaft rotates continuously, it drives the driving roller assembly to rotate intermittently.

[0010] By adopting the above technical solution, the continuous rotation of the central drive shaft is directly and reliably converted into the intermittent stepping motion of the drive roller group and its conveyor belt through the periodic meshing and disengagement of the first incomplete gear and the driven full gear. The structure is simple, and the stepping timing and stroke are precisely controllable, providing a foundation for the precise linkage of subsequent processes.

[0011] Preferably, the door control linkage module includes a second incomplete gear and two driven wheels fixed on the central drive shaft. The two driven wheels are arranged opposite each other in the base. The driven wheels and the second incomplete gear are meshed by a chain. The first incomplete gear and the second incomplete gear are arranged in combination. A cam is coaxially fixedly connected to the outer side of each driven wheel. The cam is connected to the lifting mechanism of the sealing door. The second incomplete gear is configured such that during the interval when the first incomplete gear is disengaged from the driven gear, the second incomplete gear meshes with the driven wheel, thereby pushing the cam to move, and thus driving the sealing door to open and close.

[0012] By adopting the above technical solution, and utilizing the first and second incompletely coupled gears on the same central drive shaft, the opening and closing of the sealing door is automatically and precisely scheduled during the workpiece repositioning interval when the conveyor belt is stationary. The chain drive transmits power to the cams on both sides, ensuring synchronous operation of the sealing doors on both sides. The mechanical linkage has high reliability and requires no additional independent drive or complex electrical control program.

[0013] Preferably, the atmosphere circulation assembly includes a circulation fan; the closing action of the sealing door is linked to an airflow switch valve via a trigger rod. After the airflow switch valve is opened, the power supply or air path of the circulation fan is connected, and the atmosphere circulation is started.

[0014] By adopting the above technical solution, the start-up of atmosphere circulation is directly triggered by the mechanical closing action of the sealing door, achieving seamless connection between processes. The circulating fan only starts when the sealing door is fully closed, effectively avoiding atmosphere leakage and energy loss caused by fan operation during door opening, and ensuring rapid, uniform, and stable atmosphere inside the furnace during the heat treatment stage.

[0015] Preferably, the supporting and conveying mechanism further includes a workpiece posture holding assembly that is synchronously linked with the high-temperature resistant conveyor belt; the workpiece posture holding assembly includes a pressure roller group arranged parallel above the conveyor belt, and a lifting cylinder is provided above the heat treatment chamber. The piston rod of the lifting cylinder passes through the heat treatment chamber and is connected to the pressure roller group, applying stable vertical pressure to the rare earth alloy conductor workpiece during the conveying process. By adopting the above technical solution, during intermittent conveying and static heat treatment, the pressure roller group applies a vertically downward constraint force to the workpiece through the stable downward pressure provided by the lifting cylinder. This effectively prevents the workpiece from sliding or shifting due to inertia when the conveyor belt starts and stops, as well as from warping deformation that may occur due to stress release at high temperatures. This ensures the positional stability and posture consistency of the workpiece throughout the entire heat treatment process.

[0016] Preferably, it also includes a vibration aging mechanism linked to the supporting conveying mechanism; the vibration aging mechanism includes a vibration motor disposed at the bottom of the heat treatment chamber, the start of the vibration motor is controlled by the conveying linkage module, and it only starts working after the active roller group is in a static intermittent period and the sealing door is completely closed.

[0017] By adopting the above technical solution, vibration aging treatment is cleverly integrated into the heat treatment cycle and carried out in a stable environment where the workpiece is stationary, sealed, and in a circulating atmosphere. Its initiation timing is controlled by a linkage drive system, strictly synchronized with the main process rhythm, requiring no additional intervention. Vibration helps release internal stress in the workpiece, homogenizes the microstructure, and further improves the performance stability of the final product.

[0018] In summary, the present invention has at least the following beneficial effects: Because this invention uses a single power source through a central drive shaft and separately set conveying linkage module and gate control linkage module, it achieves precise mechanical linkage between intermittent workpiece conveying and the opening and closing of the heat treatment chamber sealing door. It strictly limits the action of the sealing door to the conveying stationary period, effectively reducing the waiting time for process switching in the traditional method, avoiding atmosphere disturbance and heat loss caused by conveying action or atmosphere circulation during door opening, and greatly improving the continuity, efficiency and atmosphere stability of the heat treatment process.

[0019] In this invention, the preferred approach is to use a scheme in which the operation of the atmosphere circulation component is mechanically triggered by the closing action of the sealing door. Since the atmosphere circulation is only started after the cavity is completely sealed, it ensures that the protective atmosphere can quickly reach a uniform state during the heat treatment stage. At the same time, it completely eliminates unnecessary energy waste and atmosphere pollution during the loading and unloading stage, further optimizing the energy-saving effect of the process and the product quality. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a high-performance heat treatment device for a rare earth alloy conductor.

[0021] Figure 2 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of a high-performance heat treatment device for rare earth alloy conductors.

[0022] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of a high-performance heat treatment device for a rare earth alloy conductor.

[0023] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the gate control linkage module.

[0024] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached drawings: 1. Heat treatment equipment; 11. Base; 12. Heat treatment chamber; 13. Supporting conveyor mechanism; 131. Driving roller assembly; 132. Driven roller assembly; 133. High-temperature conveyor belt; 2. Atmosphere circulation assembly; 21. Circulating fan; 22. Airflow switch valve; 3. Linkage drive system; 31. Main drive motor; 32. Central drive shaft; 4. Conveying linkage module; 41. First incomplete gear; 42. Driven full gear; 5. Gate control linkage module; 51. Second incomplete gear; 52. Chain; 53. Driven wheel; 54. Cam; 6. Lifting mechanism; 7. Trigger rod. Detailed Implementation

[0025] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to all the accompanying drawings.

[0026] Example 1

[0027] Reference Figures 1-4This embodiment discloses a high-performance heat treatment device for rare earth alloy conductors, including a base 11, a heat treatment chamber 12, a supporting and conveying mechanism 13, an atmosphere control mechanism, and a linkage drive system 3. The base 11 provides stable support for the entire device, and the heat treatment chamber 12 is fixedly installed above the base 11, forming a sealed heat treatment space inside. The inner wall is lined with a high-temperature resistant heat insulation material, such as ceramic fiber modules.

[0028] Reference Figures 1-4 The supporting and conveying mechanism 13 is located entirely inside the heat treatment chamber 12, running through it in the front-to-back direction. This mechanism includes a drive roller assembly 131 located outside the feed end of the chamber and a driven roller assembly 132 located outside the discharge end, as well as an annular high-temperature resistant conveyor belt 133 tensioned between the drive roller assembly 131 and the driven roller assembly 132. The high-temperature resistant conveyor belt 133 can be a metal mesh belt or a high-temperature resistant ceramic fiber woven belt, used to carry and convey rare earth alloy conductor workpieces.

[0029] Reference Figures 1-4 The atmosphere control mechanism includes symmetrically arranged, openable and sealable doors on both sides of the heat treatment chamber 12 (corresponding to both sides along the length of the workpiece), and an atmosphere circulation assembly 2. The sealable doors adopt a lifting structure, and their door panel edges are embedded with high-temperature resistant silicone rubber sealing strips, forming a seal with the chamber door frame. The atmosphere circulation assembly 2 is used to ensure uniform flow of protective gas (such as argon, nitrogen, or a mixture thereof) within the chamber.

[0030] Reference Figures 1-4 The linkage drive system 3 is the core of this embodiment. It includes a main drive motor 31, which is preferably a servo motor or stepper motor with a reducer to provide precise speed and position control. The output shaft of the main drive motor 31 is connected to and drives a horizontally positioned central transmission shaft 32 via a coupling. The central transmission shaft 32 runs through the mechanical transmission area of ​​the equipment. A conveying linkage module 4 and a door control linkage module 5 are fixedly connected to the central transmission shaft 32.

[0031] Reference Figures 1-4The conveying linkage module 4 is used to convert the continuous rotational motion of the central drive shaft 32 into the intermittent rotational motion of the drive roller assembly 131. Specifically, the conveying linkage module 4 includes a first incomplete gear 41, which is fixedly sleeved on the central drive shaft 32 by a key connection. Meshing with the first incomplete gear 41 is a driven full gear 42, which is mounted via bearings and supports. Its gear shaft is directly connected to the drive shaft of the drive roller assembly 131 via another coupling. The first incomplete gear 41 has only a continuous tooth arc on its circumference, with the remaining portion being a smooth, toothless arc surface. The length of its tooth arc segment is precisely designed and matched with the number of teeth of the driven full gear 42, so that every time the central drive shaft 32 rotates, the tooth arc segment of the first incomplete gear 41 drives the driven full gear 42 to rotate by a specific angle (e.g., 90 degrees, 120 degrees, etc.), thereby driving the drive roller group 131 and the conveyor belt to step forward a set distance. Then, in the toothless arc segment, the driven full gear 42 and the drive roller group 131 remain stationary, realizing intermittent conveying.

[0032] Reference Figures 1-4 The door control linkage module 5 is used to drive the opening and closing of the two side sealing doors and works in conjunction with the conveying linkage module 4. This module includes a second incomplete gear 51, which is also fixedly mounted on the central drive shaft 32 via a key connection and is arranged axially alongside the first incomplete gear 41. The phase relationship between the two gears has been precisely calculated and fixed. Inside the base 11, two driven wheels 53 are provided. The two driven wheels 53 are meshed and driven by a closed-loop chain 52 surrounding the second incomplete gear 51 and the two driven wheels 53. On the outer end face of each driven wheel 53, a cam 54 is coaxially fixedly connected. The profile surface of each cam 54 contacts or connects to the lifting mechanism 6 of the corresponding side sealing door. The tooth arc segments of the second incomplete gear 51 are configured such that when the central drive shaft 32 rotates to the toothless arc segment of the first incomplete gear 41 (i.e., during the conveying standby period), the tooth arc segment of the second incomplete gear 51 just enters the meshing state with the chain 52, thereby driving the two driven wheels 53 and the cam 54 to rotate synchronously by a certain angle through the chain 52. The rotation of the cam 54 pushes or pulls the lifting mechanism 6 of the sealing door to complete a complete opening (facilitating workpiece repositioning) and closing action cycle. When the sealing door moves to the fully closed position, a mechanical trigger rod 7 on the door plate is pressed down.

[0033] Reference Figures 1-4 The atmosphere circulation assembly 2 includes a circulating fan 21 installed outside (top or side) of the heat treatment chamber 12. An airflow switching valve 22 is connected in series on the power line or drive air line of the circulating fan 21. The triggering mechanism (such as a lever or micro switch) of the airflow switching valve 22 corresponds to the position of the trigger rod 7 on the aforementioned sealing door.

[0034] Reference Figures 1-4When the sealed door is fully closed, the trigger rod 7 is pressed down, which in turn opens the airflow switch valve 22, thereby connecting the power supply or air circuit of the circulating fan 21. The fan starts working, driving the protective atmosphere to circulate in the cavity. When the sealed door is opened, the trigger rod 7 returns to its original position, the airflow switch valve 22 closes, and the circulating fan 21 stops.

[0035] The implementation principle of Example 1 is as follows: The main drive motor 31 starts, driving the central drive shaft 32 to rotate continuously and uniformly. The first incomplete gear 41 on the central drive shaft 32 rotates accordingly. When its tooth arc segment meshes with the driven full gear 42, it drives the active roller group 131 to rotate, pulling the high-temperature resistant conveyor belt 133 to advance one station distance, sending the carried workpiece into the next processing area of ​​the heat treatment chamber 12. Subsequently, the first incomplete gear 41 enters the toothless arc segment, the driven full gear 42 and the conveyor belt stop moving, and the workpiece enters the static processing period. At the same time, the central drive shaft 32 continues to rotate, and the tooth arc segment of the second incomplete gear 51 with phase matching on it begins to mesh with the chain 52, driving the driven wheels 53 and cams 54 on both sides to rotate synchronously through the chain 52. The specific contour of the cam 54 pushes the lifting mechanism 6 of the sealing door on both sides, so that the sealing door opens quickly (to facilitate the entry of new workpieces and the exit of processed workpieces during the next workpiece step), and then closes under the drive of the cam 54. At the instant the sealed door is fully closed, its trigger rod 7 activates the airflow switch valve 22, starting the circulating fan 21 to provide uniform atmosphere circulation heat treatment for the workpiece stationary in the cavity. Throughout the process, the workpiece conveying, stationary operation, opening and closing of the sealed door, and the start and stop of atmosphere circulation are all precisely controlled by a single motor through mechanical linkage, with clear rhythm and tight connection, greatly improving the degree of automation, thermal efficiency, and consistency of processing quality. After the equipment has been running for a long time, high temperature, dust, or slight mechanical deformation may cause the sealed door to be in the "closed" position but not to reach the optimal sealing and pressing state. The cam 54 mechanism actively drives an "open-close" cycle, which actually forces the sealed door to complete a full stroke from the open position to the closed position. In the final stage of the closing stroke, the elastic sealing strip (such as high-temperature resistant silicone) on the sealed door (or door frame) is re- and actively pressed, thereby ensuring that the airtightness of this closing is reliable and consistent.

[0036] Example 2 This embodiment discloses a specific gear phase matching scheme for a linkage drive system 3. As a supplement to embodiment 1, this embodiment describes in detail the phase relationship setting between the first incomplete gear 41 and the second incomplete gear 51. A complete working cycle is defined as one full rotation (360°) of the central drive shaft 32. The toothed arc segment of the first incomplete gear 41 occupies the central angle α (e.g., 120°), and the toothless arc segment occupies the central angle 360°-α (e.g., 240°). The second incomplete gear 51 is designed to have teeth (chain teeth) within the central angle β, where β is slightly larger than the rotation angle of the cam 54 required for the sealing door to complete one "open-hold open-close" cycle (e.g., 150°). The key phase setting is that the starting point of the toothed arc segment of the second incomplete gear 51 lags behind the starting point of the toothless arc segment of the first incomplete gear 41 by a very small angle γ (e.g., 10°). This means that only after the conveyor belt stops (the first incomplete gear 41 enters the toothless arc segment) and the central drive shaft 32 rotates by an angle γ, does the second incomplete gear 51 begin to engage with the chain 52 to drive the sealing door. This brief delay γ ensures that the sealing door only opens after the conveyor belt has completely stopped, avoiding any possible interference. Simultaneously, the toothed arc segment of the second incomplete gear 51 must end engagement before the next toothed arc segment of the first incomplete gear 41 begins, ensuring that the sealing door is fully closed and air circulation is triggered before the next conveyor begins. This precise phase design allows for seamless coordination between actions.

[0037] The above are all preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, all equivalent changes made in accordance with the structure, shape and principle of the present invention should be covered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A high-performance heat treatment device for rare earth alloy conductors, characterized in that, It includes a base (11), a heat treatment chamber (12), a support and conveying mechanism (13) located in the chamber, an atmosphere control mechanism, and a linkage drive system (3). The supporting and conveying mechanism (13) includes a drive roller group (131), a driven roller group (132), and a high-temperature resistant conveyor belt (133) tensioned between the two, for carrying and intermittently conveying rare earth alloy conductor workpieces; The atmosphere control mechanism includes an openable and closable sealing door symmetrically arranged on both sides of the heat treatment chamber (12) and an atmosphere circulation assembly (2) linked with the sealing door. The linkage drive system (3) includes a main drive motor (31), a central drive shaft (32) driven by the main drive motor (31), and a conveying linkage module (4) and a gate control linkage module (5) connected to the central drive shaft (32). The conveying linkage module (4) converts the rotational motion of the central drive shaft (32) into the intermittent rotational motion of the active roller group (131); The gate control linkage module (5) is mechanically coupled to the opening and closing actuator of the sealing door through the second incomplete gear (51) assembly or eccentric wheel set on the central drive shaft (32), so that the sealing door is driven to perform one opening-closing cycle, and after closing, the atmosphere circulation assembly (2) is triggered to work during the intermittent period when the active roller group (131) is stationary.

2. The high-performance heat treatment equipment for rare earth alloy conductors according to claim 1, characterized in that, The conveying linkage module (4) includes a first incomplete gear (41) fixed on the central drive shaft (32) and a driven full gear (42) meshing with the first incomplete gear (41) and mounted on the drive shaft of the active roller group (131); the tooth arc length of the first incomplete gear (41) matches the number of teeth of the driven full gear (42), so that when the central drive shaft (32) rotates continuously, it drives the active roller group (131) to rotate intermittently.

3. The high-performance heat treatment equipment for rare earth alloy conductors according to claim 2, characterized in that, The door control linkage module (5) includes a second incomplete gear (51) and two driven wheels (53) fixed on the central drive shaft (32). The two driven wheels (53) are arranged opposite to each other in the base (11). The driven wheels (53) and the second incomplete gear (51) are meshed by a chain (52). The first incomplete gear (41) and the second incomplete gear (51) are arranged in pairs. A cam (54) is coaxially fixedly connected to the outer side of each driven wheel (53). The cam (54) is connected to the lifting mechanism (6) of the sealing door. The second incomplete gear (51) is configured such that during the intermittent period when the first incomplete gear (41) is disengaged from the driven full gear (42), the second incomplete gear (51) meshes with the driven wheel (53), thereby pushing the cam (54) to move, and thus driving the sealing door to open and close.

4. The high-performance heat treatment equipment for rare earth alloy conductors according to claim 3, characterized in that, The atmosphere circulation component (2) includes a circulation fan (21); the closing action of the sealing door is linked to an airflow switch valve (22) by a trigger rod (7). After the airflow switch valve (22) is opened, the power supply or air path of the circulation fan (21) is connected, and the atmosphere circulation is started.

5. The high-performance heat treatment equipment for rare earth alloy conductors according to claim 1, characterized in that, The supporting and conveying mechanism (13) also includes a workpiece posture holding assembly that is synchronously linked with the high-temperature resistant conveyor belt (133); the workpiece posture holding assembly includes a pressure roller group arranged parallel above the conveyor belt, and a lifting cylinder is provided above the heat treatment chamber (12). The piston rod of the lifting cylinder passes through the heat treatment chamber (12) and is connected to the pressure roller group, so as to apply stable vertical pressure to the rare earth alloy conductor workpiece during the conveying process.

6. The high-performance heat treatment equipment for rare earth alloy conductors according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a vibration aging mechanism linked with the supporting conveying mechanism (13); the vibration aging mechanism includes a vibration motor located at the bottom of the heat treatment chamber (12), the start of the vibration motor is controlled by the conveying linkage module (4), and it only starts working after the active roller group (131) is in a static intermittent period and the sealing door is completely closed.

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