Quenching solution bath equipment

Abstract

The present invention provides a quenching liquid tank system that can effectively purify the quenching liquid returned from an induction heating device. [Solution] The quenching liquid tank device 6 includes a dirty tank 24 for storing the unpurified quenching liquid returned from the induction heating device 4, a clean tank 26 for storing the purified quenching liquid supplied to the induction heating device 4, a return pump 22 for circulating the quenching liquid stored in the dirty tank 24 within the dirty tank 24, a cyclone filter 36 for purifying the quenching liquid by removing sludge contained in the quenching liquid, and a transfer pump 34 for transferring the quenching liquid circulating in the dirty tank 24 to the clean tank 26 via the cyclone filter 36.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a quenching liquid tank device for treating a quenching liquid for cooling an object to be heated heated by an induction heating device.

Background Art

[0002] An induction heating device for performing a heat treatment called high-frequency quenching on an object to be heated is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this high-frequency quenching, for example, by causing electromagnetic induction of a high frequency of about several kHz to several tens of kHz, the object to be heated is heated to a high temperature and then rapidly cooled by a quenching liquid.

[0003] When cooling the object to be heated in this high-frequency quenching, the quenching liquid stored in the tank is supplied to the injection nozzle by a pump, and the quenching liquid is injected from the injection nozzle toward the object to be heated. The quenching liquid injected from the injection nozzle is recovered into the tank after cooling the object to be heated.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In the above-described conventional induction heating device, due to repeated high-frequency quenching, sludge containing, for example, oxide scale is mixed into the quenching liquid flowing inside the induction heating device. As a result, there arises a problem that the injection nozzle becomes clogged with sludge due to the repeated supply of the quenching liquid containing sludge to the injection nozzle.

[0006] The present invention aims to solve the above-mentioned problems, and its objective is to provide a quenching liquid tank device that can effectively purify the quenching liquid returned from an induction heating device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] (Technology 1) A quenching liquid tank apparatus for processing quenching liquid used to cool an object heated by an induction heating device, comprising: a dirty tank for storing unpurified quenching liquid returned from the induction heating device; a clean tank for storing purified quenching liquid supplied to the induction heating device; a circulation unit for circulating the quenching liquid stored in the dirty tank within the dirty tank; a sludge removal unit for purifying the quenching liquid by removing sludge contained in the quenching liquid; and a transfer pump for transferring the quenching liquid circulating in the dirty tank to the clean tank via the sludge removal unit.

[0008] According to Technology 1, the circulation unit circulates the quenching liquid stored in the dirty tank within the dirty tank, thereby suppressing the settling and accumulation of sludge contained in the quenching liquid stored in the dirty tank at the bottom of the dirty tank. Furthermore, the transfer pump transfers the quenching liquid circulating in the dirty tank to the clean tank via the sludge removal unit, thereby suppressing the supply of quenching liquid containing sludge from the clean tank to the induction heating device. Consequently, the quenching liquid returning from the induction heating device can be effectively purified.

[0009] (Technology 2) The quenching liquid tank apparatus according to Technical 1, wherein the circulation unit has a return pump that supplies the quenching liquid returned from the induction heating device into the dirty tank, and the return pump circulates the quenching liquid within the dirty tank using the pressure of the quenching liquid supplied into the dirty tank.

[0010] According to Technology 2, by utilizing the pressure of the quenching liquid supplied into the dirty tank, the quenching liquid can be easily and efficiently circulated within the dirty tank.

[0011] (Technology 3) The circulation unit comprises a feed pump that supplies the quenching liquid stored in the clean tank to the induction heating device, and a bypass channel that bypasses at least a portion of the quenching liquid supplied by the feed pump into the dirty tank, wherein the feed pump circulates the quenching liquid in the dirty tank by utilizing the pressure of the quenching liquid bypassed into the dirty tank via the bypass channel, as described in Technical 1.

[0012] According to Technology 3, by utilizing the pressure of the quenching fluid bypassed into the dirty tank via the bypass channel, the quenching fluid can be easily and efficiently circulated within the dirty tank.

[0013] (Technology 4) The quenching liquid tank apparatus according to Technical 1, wherein the circulation unit comprises a stirring screw positioned to be immersed in the quenching liquid stored in the dirty tank, and a drive source for rotating the screw.

[0014] According to Technology 4, by rotating the screw with a drive source, the quenching fluid can be easily and efficiently circulated within the dirty tank.

[0015] (Technology 5) The quenching solution tank apparatus according to any one of the technologies 1 to 4, wherein the dirty tank is arranged in a ring shape along the outer circumference of the clean tank in a plan view.

[0016] According to Technology 5, the dirty tank and the clean tank can be arranged compactly.

[0017] (Technology 6) The quenching liquid tank apparatus according to any one of the technologies 1 to 5 further comprises: an oil removal unit for removing oil contained in the quenching liquid circulating in the dirty tank; and an overflow channel for returning the quenching liquid stored in the clean tank that has overflowed from the top of the clean tank back into the dirty tank.

[0018] According to Technique 6, the oil that could not be completely removed by the oil removal part and floats on the liquid surface of the quenching liquid stored in the clean tank can be returned to the dirty tank without being supplied to the induction heating device together with the quenching liquid.

[0019] (Technique 7) The sludge removal part is a cyclone filter, and the quenching liquid tank device according to any one of Techniques 1 to 6.

[0020] According to Technique 7, the sludge contained in the quenching liquid can be effectively removed by using the centrifugal force of the cyclone filter.

[0021] (Technique 8) The quenching liquid tank device further includes a magnetic separator for removing the sludge contained in the drain liquid discharged from the cyclone filter, and the drain liquid from which the sludge has been removed by the magnetic separator is returned to the dirty tank. The quenching liquid tank device according to Technique 7.

[0022] According to Technique 8, the sludge contained in the drain liquid discharged from the cyclone filter can be effectively removed by the magnetic separator.

[0023] (Technique 9) The quenching liquid tank device further includes a magnet for magnetically adsorbing the sludge contained in the quenching liquid disposed in the dirty tank and circulating in the dirty tank. The quenching liquid tank device according to any one of Techniques 1 to 8.

[0024] According to Technique 9, the sludge contained in the quenching liquid circulating in the dirty tank can be effectively removed by magnetically adsorbing it to the magnet.

[0025] (Technique 10) The quenching liquid tank device further includes a temperature control part for controlling the temperature of the quenching liquid stored in the clean tank. The quenching liquid tank device according to any one of Techniques 1 to 9.

[0026] According to Technology 10, the volume of quenching fluid heated and / or cooled by the temperature control unit can be kept small, thereby saving energy. [Effects of the Invention]

[0027] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the quenching liquid tank apparatus can effectively purify the quenching liquid returned from the induction heating apparatus. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0028] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram showing an overview of the induction heating system according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view showing the configuration of the quenching solution tank apparatus according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 3] This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the quenching solution tank apparatus according to Embodiment 1, shown along line III-III in Figure 2. [Figure 4] This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the quenching solution tank apparatus according to Embodiment 2. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0029] The embodiments will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0030] The embodiments described below are all comprehensive or specific examples. The numerical values, shapes, materials, components, arrangement and connection configurations of components, steps, and the order of steps shown in the following embodiments are examples only and are not intended to limit the scope of the claims. Furthermore, among the components in the following embodiments, those not described in the independent claim representing the highest-level concept will be described as optional components.

[0031] Furthermore, the figures are not necessarily strictly accurate. In each figure, substantially identical components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations are omitted or simplified.

[0032] (Embodiment 1) [1. Overview of the induction heating system] First, an overview of the induction heating system 2 according to Embodiment 1 will be described with reference to Figure 1. Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing an overview of the induction heating system 2 according to Embodiment 1.

[0033] As shown in Figure 1, the induction heating system 2 comprises an induction heating device 4 and a quenching liquid tank device 6.

[0034] The induction heating device 4 is a device for performing a heat treatment called high-frequency induction hardening. In this high-frequency induction hardening, the object to be heated 8 is heated to a high temperature (induction heating) using a high frequency of, for example, several kHz to several hundred kHz, and then the object to be heated 8 is rapidly cooled with a hardening solution. The object to be heated 8 is, for example, a tubular metal part used in vehicles or machine tools.

[0035] The induction heating device 4 comprises an oscillator unit (not shown), an induction coil 10, a cooling jacket 12, and a receiving container 14.

[0036] The oscillator unit is a power conversion unit for outputting a high-frequency current of a predetermined frequency. The oscillator unit is electrically connected to the induction coil 10.

[0037] The induction coil 10 is a coil for heating the object to be heated 8, and is positioned facing the outer surface of the object to be heated 8. When a high-frequency current from the oscillator unit is supplied to the induction coil 10, the object to be heated 8 is heated by high-frequency electromagnetic induction.

[0038] The cooling jacket 12 is positioned facing the outer surface of the object to be heated 8 and has an injection nozzle for spraying quenching liquid toward the object to be heated 8.

[0039] The receiving container 14 is a container for receiving the quenching liquid sprayed from the cooling jacket 12. The object to be heated 8, the induction coil 10, and the cooling jacket 12 are housed inside the receiving container 14.

[0040] The quenching solution tank device 6 is a device for treating (purifying) the quenching solution. The quenching solution is a coolant used to cool the heated object 8 heated by the induction heating device 4, and is, for example, quenching water or quenching oil. The specific configuration of the quenching solution tank device 6 will be described later.

[0041] In addition to the components described above, the induction heating system 2 includes a feed channel 16 and a return channel 18.

[0042] The feed channel 16 is a pipe that connects the quenching solution tank device 6 and the cooling jacket 12 of the induction heating device 4. One end of the feed channel 16 is connected to the quenching solution tank device 6. The other end of the feed channel 16 is connected to the cooling jacket 12 of the induction heating device 4. A feed pump 20 is located in the feed channel 16.

[0043] The return channel 18 is a pipe that connects the quenching solution tank device 6 and the receiving container 14 of the induction heating device 4. One end of the return channel 18 is connected to the quenching solution tank device 6. The other end of the return channel 18 is connected to the receiving container 14 of the induction heating device 4. A return pump 22 is located in the return channel 18.

[0044] The operation of the induction heating system 2 will be described below with reference to Figure 1. First, the object to be heated 8 is placed inside the receiving container 14 so that it faces the induction coil 10 and cooling jacket 12 of the induction heating device 4. Next, the object to be heated 8 is heated to a high temperature by the induction coil 10 of the induction heating device 4.

[0045] Next, the quenching liquid from the quenching liquid tank device 6 is supplied by the feed pump 20 to the cooling jacket 12 of the induction heating device 4 via the feed channel 16. The quenching liquid is sprayed from the cooling jacket 12 toward the object to be heated 8, causing the object to be heated 8 to cool rapidly. After the object to be heated 8 has cooled, the quenching liquid sprayed from the cooling jacket 12 is received inside the receiving container 14.

[0046] Next, the quenching liquid received inside the receiving container 14 is returned to the quenching liquid tank device 6 via the return channel 18 by the return pump 22. After being purified in the quenching liquid tank device 6, the quenching liquid returned to the quenching liquid tank device 6 is supplied again to the cooling jacket 12 of the induction heating device 4 via the supply channel 16.

[0047] As described above, each time high-frequency induction hardening is performed in the induction heating device 4, hardening liquid is supplied from the hardening liquid tank device 6 to the induction heating device 4, and the hardening liquid that returns from the induction heating device 4 is recovered in the hardening liquid tank device 6.

[0048] [2. Configuration of the quenching solution tank system] Next, the configuration of the quenching solution tank apparatus 6 according to Embodiment 1 will be described with reference to Figures 2 and 3. Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the quenching solution tank apparatus 6 according to Embodiment 1. Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the quenching solution tank apparatus 6 according to Embodiment 1, taken along line III-III in Figure 2.

[0049] In Figures 2 and 3, the left-right direction (width direction) of the quenching solution tank device 6 is the X-axis direction, the front-to-back direction (depth direction) of the quenching solution tank device 6 is the Y-axis direction, and the up-and-down direction (height direction) of the quenching solution tank device 6 is the Z-axis direction.

[0050] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the quenching solution tank apparatus 6 comprises a dirty tank 24, a return pump 22 (see Figure 1), a clean tank 26, a feed pump 20, a bypass channel 28, an overflow channel 30, a transfer channel 32, a transfer pump 34, a cyclone filter 36 (an example of a sludge removal section), a magnetic separator 38, a plurality (e.g., 4) of magnets 40, an oil skimmer 42 (an example of an oil removal section), and a temperature control unit 44.

[0051] The dirty tank 24 is a hollow tank for storing the unpurified quenching liquid that has returned from the induction heating device 4 (see Figure 1). As shown in Figure 3, the dirty tank 24 is formed in a rectangular annular shape in an XY plan view and is arranged in an annular shape along the outer circumference of the clean tank 26. As a result, a rectangular opening 46 is formed in the center of the dirty tank 24 in an XY plan view.

[0052] One end of the aforementioned return channel 18 is connected to the outer surface of the dirty tank 24. In other words, the dirty tank 24 is in communication with the receiving container 14 (see Figure 1) of the induction heating device 4 via the return channel 18. As a result, the unpurified quenching liquid returning from the induction heating device 4 is flowed into the dirty tank 24 via the return channel 18 by the return pump 22 and stored inside the dirty tank 24. In Figure 3, the quenching liquid stored inside the dirty tank 24 is represented by a halftone pattern.

[0053] As the high-frequency induction hardening described above is repeated, sludge is mixed into the quenching liquid flowing inside the induction heating device 4. The sludge is a muddy substance containing, for example, oxide scale that has precipitated and adhered inside the induction heating device 4, as well as metal powder. Therefore, the quenching liquid that returns from the induction heating device 4 and flows into the dirty tank 24 contains sludge.

[0054] The return pump 22 is an electric pump that supplies the unpurified quenching liquid returned from the induction heating device 4 into the dirty tank 24. The return pump 22 also functions as a circulation unit that circulates the quenching liquid stored inside the dirty tank 24. Specifically, as shown in Figure 3, the return pump 22 circulates the quenching liquid inside the dirty tank 24 by utilizing the pressure of the quenching liquid supplied (flowing into) the dirty tank 24 from the return passage 18. In the example shown in Figure 3, the quenching liquid circulates clockwise in a ring shape inside the dirty tank 24 in an XY plane view.

[0055] The clean tank 26 is a hollow tank for storing the purified quenching liquid supplied to the induction heating device 4. The clean tank 26 is rectangular in shape in an XY plan view. The lower half of the clean tank 26 is embedded in the opening 46 of the dirty tank 24 and is positioned opposite the inner circumferential surface of the dirty tank 24. The upper half of the clean tank 26 protrudes upward from the opening 46 of the dirty tank 24 and is exposed to the outside of the opening 46 of the dirty tank 24. The inside of the clean tank 26 is almost completely filled with the purified quenching liquid. In Figure 3, the quenching liquid stored inside the clean tank 26 is represented by a halftone pattern.

[0056] One end of the feed channel 16 described above is connected to the outer surface of the clean tank 26. That is, the clean tank 26 is in communication with the cooling jacket 12 of the induction heating device 4 (see Figure 1) via the feed channel 16. It is preferable that one end of the feed channel 16 is connected to the outer surface of the clean tank 26 below the upper end (i.e., below the liquid surface of the quenching liquid stored inside the clean tank 26) so that oil (described later) floating on the surface of the quenching liquid stored inside the clean tank 26 does not flow into the feed channel 16.

[0057] The feed pump 20 is an electric pump for supplying the purified quenching liquid stored inside the clean tank 26 to the induction heating device 4, and is located in the feed channel 16.

[0058] The bypass channel 28 is a pipe for bypassing at least a portion of the quenching fluid supplied by the feed pump 20 into the dirty tank 24. One end of the bypass channel 28 is connected to the outer surface of the feed channel 16, and the other end of the bypass channel 28 is connected to the outer surface of the dirty tank 24.

[0059] Although not shown in the diagram, the feed channel 16 is equipped with a switching valve that can be switched between a first switching state and a second switching state.

[0060] When the switching valve is switched to the first switching state, the clean tank 26 and the cooling jacket 12 of the induction heating device 4 are connected via the supply channel 16, and the connection between the clean tank 26 and the dirty tank 24 is blocked. As a result, the purified quenching liquid stored inside the clean tank 26 is supplied by the supply pump 20 to the cooling jacket 12 of the induction heating device 4 via the supply channel 16.

[0061] On the other hand, when the switching valve is switched to the second switching state, the clean tank 26 and the dirty tank 24 are connected via the feed channel 16 and the bypass channel 28, and the connection between the clean tank 26 and the cooling jacket 12 of the induction heating device 4 is cut off. As a result, the purified quenching liquid stored inside the clean tank 26 is supplied to the inside of the dirty tank 24 via the feed channel 16 and the bypass channel 28 by the feed pump 20.

[0062] Furthermore, the supply pump 20 and the bypass passage 28 also function as a circulation section that circulates the quenching liquid stored inside the dirty tank 24 within the dirty tank 24. Specifically, when the aforementioned switching valve is switched to the second switching state, the supply pump 20 circulates the quenching liquid inside the dirty tank 24 by utilizing the supply pressure of the quenching liquid bypassed (flowing into) the dirty tank 24 from the bypass passage 28.

[0063] The overflow channel 30 is a pipe that returns the quenching liquid that overflows from the top of the clean tank 26 back into the dirty tank 24. The overflow channel 30 penetrates the top surface of the dirty tank 24 and extends vertically from the inside of the dirty tank 24 to the outside of the dirty tank 24. One end of the overflow channel 30 is connected to the outer surface near the top of the clean tank 26. The other end of the overflow channel 30 is located inside the dirty tank 24.

[0064] The transfer channel 32 is a pipe that connects the dirty tank 24 and the clean tank 26. One end of the transfer channel 32 is connected to the top surface of the dirty tank 24. The other end of the transfer channel 32 is connected to the outer surface of the clean tank 26.

[0065] The transfer pump 34 is an electric pump that sucks up the quenching liquid circulating inside the dirty tank 24 and transfers the sucked-up quenching liquid to the inside of the clean tank 26 via the cyclone filter 36. The transfer pump 34 is located in the transfer channel 32.

[0066] The cyclone filter 36 is located in the transfer channel 32. The cyclone filter 36 purifies the quenching liquid by removing sludge contained in the quenching liquid sucked up by the transfer pump 34. Specifically, the cyclone filter 36 separates the quenching liquid containing sludge, sucked up by the transfer pump 34, into quenching liquid and sludge using centrifugal force. The quenching liquid from which the sludge has been removed by the cyclone filter 36 is transferred by the transfer pump 34 through the transfer channel 32 into the clean tank 26. The cyclone filter 36 also has a drain port 48 for discharging drain liquid. The drain liquid is waste liquid containing sludge separated from the quenching liquid and quenching liquid that remains inside the clean tank 26 without being transferred.

[0067] The magnetic separator 38 is connected to the drain port 48 of the cyclone filter 36 and removes sludge contained in the drain liquid discharged from the drain port 48 of the cyclone filter 36. Although not shown in the figure, the magnetic separator 38 has a magnetic roller and a chute. The magnetic roller is rotatably supported relative to the chute. The chute is in contact with the outer surface of the magnetic roller and slides relative to the outer surface of the magnetic roller as the magnetic roller rotates. When the drain liquid from the drain port 48 of the cyclone filter 36 is introduced onto the magnetic roller, the sludge contained in the drain liquid (e.g., magnetic oxide scale or metal powder) is magnetically attracted to the outer surface of the magnetic roller. As the magnetic roller rotates in this state, the sludge attracted to the outer surface of the magnetic roller is scraped off and removed by the chute. The drain liquid (i.e., quenching liquid) from which the sludge has been removed by the magnetic separator 38 flows down from the magnetic separator 38 and is returned to the inside of the dirty tank 24.

[0068] Each of the multiple magnets 40 is, for example, a permanent magnet and is placed inside the dirty tank 24. Specifically, as shown in Figure 3, each of the multiple magnets 40 is placed in one of the four corners inside the dirty tank 24 and is immersed in the quenching liquid stored inside the dirty tank 24. Each of the multiple magnets 40 magnetically attracts sludge (for example, magnetic oxide scale or metal powder, etc.) contained in the quenching liquid circulating inside the dirty tank 24.

[0069] The oil skimmer 42 is located inside the dirty tank 24 and removes oil floating on the surface of the quenching fluid circulating inside the dirty tank 24.

[0070] The temperature control unit 44 is a temperature control unit for controlling the temperature of the quenching liquid stored inside the clean tank 26. The temperature control unit 44 includes, for example, an inline heater for heating the quenching liquid stored inside the clean tank 26 and a plate cooler for cooling the quenching liquid stored inside the clean tank 26. By heating and / or cooling the quenching liquid stored inside the clean tank 26, the temperature control unit 44 controls the temperature of the quenching liquid to a predetermined temperature (for example, 30°C to 33°C) suitable for high-frequency induction hardening.

[0071] [3. Operation of the quenching solution bath equipment] Next, the operation of the quenching liquid tank apparatus 6 according to Embodiment 1 will be described with reference to Figures 2 and 3.

[0072] With the aforementioned switching valve switched to the first switching state, the purified quenching liquid stored inside the clean tank 26 is supplied to the induction heating device 4 via the supply channel 16 by the supply pump 20. This allows high-frequency induction hardening to be performed in the induction heating device 4. The switching valve is maintained in the first switching state while high-frequency induction hardening is being performed in the induction heating device 4.

[0073] The unpurified quenching liquid (i.e., quenching liquid containing sludge) returning from the induction heating device 4 is supplied to the inside of the dirty tank 24 via the return channel 18 by the return pump 22. At this time, the return pump 22 uses the pressure of the quenching liquid supplied from the return channel 18 to the inside of the dirty tank 24 to circulate the quenching liquid inside the dirty tank 24.

[0074] When induction hardening is not performed in the induction heating device 4, the switching valve is switched from the first switching state to the second switching state. At this time, the supply pump 20 uses the pressure of the hardening liquid supplied from the bypass passage 28 to the inside of the dirty tank 24 to circulate the hardening liquid inside the dirty tank 24.

[0075] By continuously circulating the quenching liquid in a circular motion inside the dirty tank 24 in this manner, the sludge contained in the quenching liquid is circulated together with the quenching liquid inside the dirty tank 24. As a result, it is possible to suppress the settling and accumulation of sludge contained in the quenching liquid at the bottom of the dirty tank 24.

[0076] The quenching liquid circulating inside the dirty tank 24 is constantly drawn up by the transfer pump 34 and transferred to the clean tank 26 via the cyclone filter 36. At this time, the cyclone filter 36 removes sludge contained in the quenching liquid drawn up by the transfer pump 34. As a result, the clean tank 26 stores quenching liquid that has been purified by the cyclone filter 36. The temperature of the quenching liquid stored inside the clean tank 26 is controlled to the predetermined temperature by the temperature control unit 44.

[0077] Furthermore, sludge contained in the drain liquid from the drain port 48 of the cyclone filter 36 is removed by the magnetic separator 38. The drain liquid from which the sludge has been removed by the magnetic separator 38 flows down from the magnetic separator 38 and is returned to the inside of the dirty tank 24.

[0078] Furthermore, since multiple magnets 40 are placed at each of the four corners inside the dirty tank 24, the quenching liquid circulating inside the dirty tank 24 comes into contact with the multiple magnets 40 placed at each of the four corners when it changes direction inside the dirty tank 24. As a result, the sludge contained in the quenching liquid circulating inside the dirty tank 24 can be removed by magnetic attraction to each of the multiple magnets 40.

[0079] Furthermore, oil floating on the surface of the quenching fluid circulating inside the dirty tank 24 is removed by the oil skimmer 42. However, the quenching fluid transferred from the dirty tank 24 to the clean tank 26 by the transfer pump 34 may contain oil that was not completely removed by the oil skimmer 42. As a result, oil that was not completely removed by the oil skimmer 42 will float on the surface of the quenching fluid stored inside the clean tank 26.

[0080] The liquid level of the quenching solution stored inside the clean tank 26 overflows from the top of the clean tank 26 and is returned to the inside of the dirty tank 24 via the overflow channel 30. This allows the oil floating on the surface of the quenching solution stored inside the clean tank 26 to be returned to the inside of the dirty tank 24 without being supplied to the induction heating device 4 along with the quenching solution. The oil returned to the inside of the dirty tank 24 is removed by the oil skimmer 42.

[0081] Then, the purified quenching liquid (excluding the liquid surface) stored inside the clean tank 26 is supplied to the induction heating device 4 via the supply channel 16 by the supply pump 20. Thereafter, the operation of the quenching liquid tank device 6 described above is repeated.

[0082] [4. Effects] In this embodiment, as described above, the unpurified quenching liquid returned from the induction heating device 4 is introduced into the dirty tank 24 and circulated within the dirty tank 24. This prevents sludge contained in the quenching liquid from settling and accumulating inside the dirty tank 24. As a result, the inside of the dirty tank 24 can be kept clean.

[0083] Furthermore, the quenching liquid circulating inside the dirty tank 24 is purified by the cyclone filter 36 and then transferred to the clean tank 26. The purified quenching liquid stored inside the clean tank 26 is then supplied to the induction heating device 4. This prevents quenching liquid containing sludge from being supplied from the clean tank 26 to the induction heating device 4, thereby preventing clogging of the injection nozzles of the cooling jacket 12.

[0084] Therefore, the quenching liquid returning from the induction heating device 4 can be effectively purified in the quenching liquid tank device 6.

[0085] (Embodiment 2) Next, the configuration of the quenching solution tank apparatus 6A according to Embodiment 2 will be described with reference to Figure 4. Figure 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the quenching solution tank apparatus 6A according to Embodiment 2. In this embodiment, the same reference numerals are used for components that are the same as those in Embodiment 1, and their descriptions are omitted.

[0086] As shown in Figure 4, in the quenching solution tank apparatus 6A according to Embodiment 2, the shapes of the dirty tank 24A and the clean tank 26A differ from those of Embodiment 1.

[0087] The dirty tank 24A is formed in a circular, annular shape in an XY plan view and is arranged in an annular shape along the outer circumference of the clean tank 26A. As a result, in an XY plan view, a circular opening 46A is formed in the center of the dirty tank 24A.

[0088] The clean tank 26A is formed in a circular shape in an XY plan view. Similar to Embodiment 1 described above, the lower half of the clean tank 26A is embedded in the opening 46A of the dirty tank 24A and is positioned to face the inner circumferential surface of the dirty tank 24A. The upper half of the clean tank 26A protrudes upward from the opening 46A of the dirty tank 24A and is exposed to the outside of the opening 46A of the dirty tank 24A.

[0089] For the sake of explanation, Figure 4 omits the illustration of the return channel 18, bypass channel 28, overflow channel 30, multiple magnets 40, and oil skimmer 42 described in Embodiment 1 above.

[0090] Furthermore, two sets of screws 50 and a drive source 52 are arranged inside the dirty tank 24A. The screws 50 are rotating blades for stirring and are positioned to be immersed in the quenching liquid stored inside the dirty tank 24A. The drive source 52 is a motor for rotating the screws 50. By rotating the screws 50 with the drive source 52, the quenching liquid stored inside the dirty tank 24A is circulated. In the example shown in Figure 4, the quenching liquid circulates in a clockwise ring-like manner inside the dirty tank 24A in an XY plan view.

[0091] Therefore, the same effects as in Embodiment 1 can be obtained in this embodiment as well.

[0092] (Variations, etc.) Although a quenching solution tank apparatus according to one or more embodiments of the present invention has been described above based on the above embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. Without departing from the spirit of the present invention, various modifications that a person skilled in the art can conceive of may be applied to these embodiments, and forms constructed by combining components from different embodiments may also be included within the scope of one or more embodiments of the present invention. [Industrial applicability]

[0093] The quenching solution tank apparatus according to the present invention can be used, for example, for induction heating apparatuses used for high-frequency induction hardening of metal parts. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0094] 2. Induction heating system 4 Induction heating device 6,6A Quenching solution bath apparatus 8 Heated object 10 Induction coil 12 Cooling Jackets 14 Receiving container 16 Feed channel 18 Return channel 20 Feed pump 22 Return pump 24,24A Dirty Tank 26,26A Clean Tank 28 Bypass channel 30 Overflow channel 32 Transfer channel 34 Transfer pump 36 Cyclone filter 38 Magnetic Separator 40 Magnets 42 Oil Skimmer 44 Temperature Control Unit 46,46A opening 48 Drain port 50 Screw 52 Power source

Claims

1. A quenching liquid tank apparatus for processing a quenching liquid used to cool an object heated by an induction heating device, A dirty tank for storing the unpurified quenching liquid returned from the induction heating device, A clean tank for storing the purified quenching liquid supplied to the induction heating device, A circulation unit that circulates the quenching liquid stored in the dirty tank within the dirty tank, A sludge removal unit that purifies the quenching fluid by removing sludge contained in the quenching fluid, The system includes a transfer pump that transfers the quenching liquid circulating in the dirty tank to the clean tank via the sludge removal unit. Quenching solution bathing apparatus.

2. The circulation unit has a return pump that supplies the quenching liquid returned from the induction heating device into the dirty tank. The return pump uses the pressure of the quenching liquid supplied to the dirty tank to circulate the quenching liquid within the dirty tank. The quenching liquid tank apparatus according to claim 1.

3. The aforementioned circulation unit is A supply pump for supplying the quenching liquid stored in the clean tank to the induction heating device, It has a bypass channel that bypasses at least a portion of the quenching liquid supplied by the feed pump into the dirty tank, The feed pump circulates the quenching fluid within the dirty tank by utilizing the pressure of the quenching fluid that is bypassed into the dirty tank via the bypass passage. The quenching liquid tank apparatus according to claim 1.

4. The aforementioned circulation unit is A stirring screw is positioned to be immersed in the quenching liquid stored in the dirty tank, A drive source for rotating the screw, The quenching liquid tank apparatus according to claim 1.

5. The dirty tank is arranged in a ring shape along the outer circumference of the clean tank in a plan view. The quenching liquid tank apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The aforementioned quenching solution tank apparatus further includes: An oil removal unit that removes oil contained in the quenching liquid circulating in the dirty tank, The system includes an overflow channel that returns the quenching liquid stored in the clean tank that overflows from the top of the clean tank back into the dirty tank. The quenching liquid tank apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

7. The sludge removal unit is a cyclone filter. The quenching liquid tank apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

8. The aforementioned quenching liquid tank apparatus further includes a magnetic separator for removing sludge contained in the drain liquid discharged from the cyclone filter, The drain liquid from which sludge has been removed by the magnetic separator is returned to the dirty tank. The quenching liquid tank apparatus according to claim 7.

9. The aforementioned quenching solution tank apparatus further includes magnets positioned within the dirty tank for magnetically attracting sludge contained in the quenching solution circulating within the dirty tank. The quenching liquid tank apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

10. The aforementioned quenching liquid tank apparatus further includes a temperature control unit that controls the temperature of the quenching liquid stored in the clean tank. The quenching liquid tank apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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