Induction Billet Heater

Abstract

To provide an induction heating billet heater that suitably prevents welding during billet transportation. [Solution] The induction heating billet heater includes multiple rail components, multiple support posts, and a motor. The multiple rail components are round rod-shaped with spirally uneven sides, arranged to form a path for carrying and passing billets, and have gear portions formed circumferentially at at least one end, and are independently rotatable. Each of the multiple support posts has a gear formed thereon that meshes with the gear portions of the multiple rail components. The motor rotates the multiple support posts so that adjacent rail components rotate at different speeds. Each of the multiple rail components rotates in a direction opposite to the spiral rotation direction relative to the billet transport direction.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an induction heating billet heater. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an induction billet heater that includes a plurality of independently rotatable rail components that are round and coaxially arranged to form a path for a billet to pass through. The induction billet heater rotates adjacent rail components at different rotation speeds. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2023-035306 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The induction billet heater described in Patent Document 1 constantly changes the contact area between the billet and rail constituent member during heating, thereby preventing welding between the billet and rail constituent member during heating. Furthermore, the induction billet heater described in Patent Document 1 places the opposing surfaces of the front and rear billets in a sliding state when the front and rear billets pass over rail constituent members rotating at different speeds, thereby preventing welding between the front and rear billets. However, as the rail constituent members become longer, the frequency with which the opposing surfaces of the front and rear billets slide against each other decreases, reducing the effectiveness of preventing welding between the billets.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, the present invention provides an induction billet heater that effectively prevents welding of billets during transport. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] An induction heating billet heater according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a plurality of rail constituent members, a plurality of support posts, and a motor. The rail constituent members are round rod-shaped with spirally uneven sides, arranged to form a path for carrying and passing a billet, and have a gear portion formed circumferentially at at least one end, and are independently rotatable. Each of the support posts has a gear formed thereon that meshes with the gear portion of each of the rail constituent members. The motor rotates the support posts so that adjacent rail constituent members rotate at different speeds. Each of the rail constituent members rotates in a direction opposite to the spiral rotation direction relative to the billet transport direction. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an induction billet heater that effectively prevents welding of billets during transport. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of an induction heating billet heater according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rail component according to a first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a top view of the rail component and the support post according to the first embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The present invention will be described below through embodiments of the invention, but the invention according to the claims is not limited to the following embodiments. Furthermore, not all of the configurations described in the embodiments are necessarily essential means for solving the problems. For clarity of explanation, the following description and drawings have been omitted and simplified as appropriate. In each drawing, the same elements are assigned the same reference numerals, and duplicate explanations are omitted as necessary.

[0010] <First Embodiment> The first embodiment relates to an induction heating billet heater used to heat a billet in hot forging. Hot forging is a method in which a billet is heated to a temperature (e.g., 1250°C) required for forging that is equal to or higher than the recrystallization temperature, and pressure is applied to the billet using a die or the like to form the billet into a forged product of a predetermined shape. The billet is a rod-shaped metal material of a predetermined length corresponding to the shape of the forged product.

[0011] Induction billet heaters heat billets by induction heating using a high-frequency heating coil before forging presses in hot forging. Such induction billet heaters generally include a tunnel-shaped furnace body and a high-frequency heating coil disposed within the furnace body.

[0012] In an induction billet heater, a billet is passed through a high-frequency heating coil while electricity is applied to the high-frequency heating coil. This generates Joule heat on the surface of the billet, and the induction billet heater heats the billet itself, thereby inductively heating it. Typically, billets are introduced into the high-frequency heating coil by continuously extruding multiple billets arranged in series.

[0013] Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of an induction billet heater 10 according to the first embodiment. In Fig. 1, only the passage path of a billet W is shown, and the furnace body, high-frequency heater, etc. are omitted.

[0014] Fig. 1(A) is a side view showing a part of the configuration of an induction heating billet heater 10 according to an embodiment. As shown in Fig. 1(A), the induction heating billet heater 10 according to the first embodiment includes a plurality of rail constituent members 1a, 1b (when these constituent members are collectively described, they are referred to as rail constituent members 1), a plurality of support posts 2a, 2b (when these constituent members are collectively described, they are referred to as support posts 2), and a plurality of motors 3a, 3b (when these constituent members are collectively described, they are referred to as motors 3). Each of the rail constituent members 1, each of the support posts 2, and each of the motors 3 has the same configuration.

[0015] The induction heating billet heater 10 transports a billet W on a path formed by a plurality of rail components 1. In FIG. 1(A), the induction heating billet heater 10 transports four billets W of the same size in the right direction of FIG. 1(A) (+z direction in the figure) as indicated by the diagonal arrow. The dimensions of the individual billets are not particularly limited and vary depending on the shape and dimensions of the desired forged product.

[0016] FIG. 1(B) is a cross-sectional view showing a portion of the configuration of an induction heating billet heater 10 according to an embodiment. A plurality of rail constituent members 1 are arranged in parallel at predetermined intervals according to the size of the billet W, forming a path along which the billet W is placed and passed. As shown in FIG. 1(B), when viewed from the traveling direction (the +z direction in FIG. 1(A)), the billet W is placed on a path consisting of two similarly arranged rail constituent members 1. The number of rail constituent members 1 forming the path does not have to be two. Based on the weight and transport density of the billet W, three or more rail constituent members 1 may be arranged in parallel to form a transport path for the billet W.

[0017] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a rail component 1 according to the first embodiment. The rail component 1 is a round bar with spirally uneven surfaces on its side. In FIG. 2, the rail component 1 has a convex portion formed in a clockwise spiral in the direction of travel (the +z direction in FIG. 2). The convex portion is also called a protrusion. The rail component 1 may have a spirally recessed portion formed therein. The recessed portion is also called a groove. In FIG. 2, the end of the rail component 1 is not shown.

[0018] The spiral irregularities formed on the rail constituent member 1 may be formed counterclockwise in the direction of travel (the +z direction in FIG. 2). The height or depth of the spiral irregularities formed on the rail constituent member 1 may be determined based on the hardness, weight, density, and shape of the billet W to be placed thereon.

[0019] The density of the spiral irregularities formed on the rail constituent member 1 may be determined based on the hardness, weight, density, and shape of the billet W to be placed on it. Furthermore, the spiral irregularities formed on the rail constituent member 1 do not have to be single spirals, but may be double spirals or have a shape in which more than one spiral overlap. The spacing between the spiral irregularities formed on the rail constituent member 1 may be a predetermined spacing or may vary depending on the position.

[0020] Multiple rail constituent members 1 are arranged coaxially to form a single rail. The length of the rail (the number of rail constituent members) can be determined depending on the treatment time for which heat treatment is performed. Each of the multiple rail constituent members 1 can rotate independently around the central axis of the round bar.

[0021] As the rail constituent member 1 rotates, the spiral irregularities formed on the side surface of the rail constituent member 1 move, and the billet W placed on the rail constituent member 1 moves without being pushed out. Here, the movement direction of the billet W is determined by the rotation direction of the spiral of the irregularities formed on the side surface of the rail constituent member 1 and the rotation direction of the rail constituent member 1. Referring again to FIG. 1(A), each of the multiple rail constituent members 1 can move the billet W in the conveyance direction (+z direction) by rotating in the opposite direction (clockwise) to the rotation direction (counterclockwise) of the spiral of the irregularities relative to the billet conveyance direction (+z direction).

[0022] Fig. 3 is a top view of a rail component 1 and a support post 2 according to the first embodiment. As shown in Fig. 3, a gear portion 4 is formed in the circumferential direction at least on one end of the rail component 1. In this example, the gear portions 4 are formed on both ends of the rail component 1. The end of the rail component 1 is conical, and the gear portion 4 is formed by teeth cut into the side surface of the cone.

[0023] A support pillar 2 is disposed at each end of the rail component 1. The support pillars 2 are cylindrical members that support the rail component 1. For example, a support pillar 2a is disposed at each end of the rail component 1a. The two support pillars 2a support both ends of the rail component 1a.

[0024] A gear 5 that meshes with the gear portion 4 is formed at the upper end of the support 2. The upper end of the support 2 is, for example, conical, and the gear 5 is formed by teeth carved into the side of the cone. The gear portion 4 of the rail constituent member 1 and the gear 5 of the support 2 have intersecting rotation axes and mesh with each other. The gear portion 4 and the gear 5 are, for example, bevel gears, and transmit rotation between the support 2 and the rail constituent member 1, which have different rotation directions. The gear portion 4 and the gear 5 mesh at a right angle, for example. Note that the right angle is not limited to 90 degrees, and may be, for example, in the range of 80 to 100 degrees.

[0025] Furthermore, the support 2 and the rail constituent member 1 may have their respective rotation axes intersecting at a right angle or at an angle other than a right angle, as long as they satisfy the structural strength and rotation transmission efficiency required of the induction heating billet heater 10. Furthermore, the gear portion 4 of the rail constituent member 1 and the gear 5 of the support 2 do not have to be directly meshed with each other, and rotation may be transmitted via, for example, one or more gears sandwiched between them.

[0026] A motor 3 is connected to each of the support posts 2a. Rotating the support posts 2 with the motor 3 rotates the rail constituent member 1. In other words, the support post 2 on which the motor is mounted serves as the drive shaft, and the rail constituent member 1 serves as the driven shaft, rotating in conjunction with the motor. In the example shown in FIG. 1(A), a motor 3a is connected to each of the support posts 2a arranged at both ends of the rail constituent member 1a, but a motor 3a may be provided on only one of them.

[0027] The motors 3a, 3b rotate the posts 2a, 2b, respectively, so that the rotation speeds of adjacent rail constituent members 1a, 1b are different. That is, the billet W passes over rail constituent member 1a while rail constituent member 1a is rotating at a first rotation speed, and then passes over rail constituent member 1b while rail constituent member 1b is rotating at a second rotation speed different from the first rotation speed.

[0028] First, motor 3 is started to rotate support 2, and as shown in FIG. 3, gear 5 of support 2 engages with gear portion 4 of rail constituent member 1, causing rail constituent member 1 to rotate. Referring to FIG. 1(B), as rail constituent member 1 rotates, billet W placed on it also rotates. As two parallel rail constituent members 1a rotate in the same direction, billet W rotates in the opposite direction to the direction of rotation of rail constituent member 1a. As a result, the contact area of ​​billet W with rail constituent member 1 constantly changes. Therefore, induction heating billet heater 10 can prevent billet W from welding to rail constituent member 1.

[0029] Furthermore, as the two parallel rail constituent members 1 rotate, the billet W rests on the spiral irregularities formed on the side of the rail constituent member 1, and the contact point between the rail constituent member 1 and the billet W moves. This allows the induction heating billet heater 10 to apply a propulsive force to the billet W without having to push it from behind. Therefore, the induction heating billet heater 10 can introduce the billet W into the high-frequency heating coil without continuously pushing out multiple billets W aligned in series. Therefore, the induction heating billet heater 10 can introduce multiple billets W into the high-frequency heating coil while separating them, and can effectively prevent welding between the multiple billets W.

[0030] The welding is affected by factors such as temperature, surface pressure, contact area, and contact time. The induction heating billet heater 10 can impart a driving force to each of the multiple billets W. Therefore, even when multiple billets W are continuously extruded while aligned in series, the induction heating billet heater 10 can reduce the surface pressure between the multiple billets W and effectively prevent welding.

[0031] Furthermore, by changing the spacing of the concave and convex spirals formed on each of the rail constituent members 1a and 1b, the rail constituent members can adjust the propulsive force applied to the billet W even if they rotate at different speeds. This allows the induction heating billet heater 10 to change the rotation speed of each of the rail constituent members 1a and 1b. In other words, when the front and rear billets W pass over the rail constituent members 1a and 1b rotating at different speeds, the opposing surfaces of the front and rear billets W slide against each other. This makes it possible to prevent the front and rear billets W from welding together.

[0032] As described above, the induction heating billet heater 10 forms spiral irregularities on the side surface of the rail constituent member 1, and independently rotates each of the multiple rail constituent members 1. In this way, the induction heating billet heater 10 transmits a propulsive force to the billet W, and can effectively prevent welding between the multiple billets W.

[0033] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be modified as appropriate within the scope of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0034] 1, 1a, 1b Rail components 2, 2a, 2b posts 3, 3a, 3b motors 4 Gear section 5 gears 10 Induction billet heater W Billet

Claims

[Claim 1] a plurality of rail component members each having a round bar shape with spirally uneven sides, arranged to form a path for carrying and passing a billet, each having a gear portion formed in the circumferential direction at at least one end, and each being independently rotatable; a plurality of posts each having a gear formed thereon that meshes with the gear portion of each of the plurality of rail component members; a motor that rotates the plurality of posts so that the rotation speeds of adjacent rail constituent members differ, An induction heating billet heater, wherein each of the rail component members rotates in a direction opposite to the spiral rotation direction relative to the billet transport direction.

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