Water-cooled quenching equipment

Abstract

To prevent the carbon potential of the atmosphere gas in the furnace from decreasing due to the intrusion of water vapor generated when a heated workpiece is immersed in water or a cooling aqueous solution and to prevent the atmosphere gas in the furnace from intruding into the quenching chamber when the temperature in the quenching chamber decreases and the pressure drops. [Solution] A workpiece W heated in a furnace 1 is introduced into the quenching chamber 10 through an introduction door 11, and the heated workpiece is cooled by immersing it in water c contained in a cooling liquid tank 13 provided at the bottom of the quenching chamber. When the cooled workpiece is removed from the quenching chamber through an extraction door 12 of the quenching chamber, a pressure adjustment device 20 is provided to adjust the pressure inside the quenching chamber, and when the pressure inside the quenching chamber increases, the atmosphere A1 and water vapor A3 inside the quenching chamber are exhausted, while when the pressure inside the quenching chamber decreases, exhaust gas A2 is sucked into the quenching chamber, adjusting the pressure inside the quenching chamber to a predetermined pressure.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a quenching device in which a workpiece heated in a furnace is introduced into the quenching chamber by opening an introduction door of the quenching chamber, the heated workpiece is cooled by being immersed in a coolant contained in a coolant tank provided below the quenching chamber, and the cooled workpiece is removed from the quenching chamber by opening an extraction door of the quenching chamber; and to a water-cooled quenching device in which a workpiece heated in a furnace is introduced into the quenching chamber by opening the introduction door of the quenching chamber, the heated workpiece is cooled by being immersed in water or an aqueous cooling solution contained in a coolant tank provided below the quenching chamber, and the cooled workpiece is moved horizontally through the water or aqueous cooling solution and then lifted and removed from the quenching chamber. In particular, in a water-cooled quenching apparatus that uses water or an aqueous cooling solution as the coolant contained in the coolant tank, the pressure inside the quenching chamber increases due to the steam generated when the heated workpiece is immersed in water or an aqueous cooling solution to be rapidly cooled. The steam then enters the furnace through the gap in the inlet door of the quenching chamber and reacts with the atmospheric gas inside the furnace, reducing the carbon potential of the atmospheric gas inside the furnace, preventing the workpiece from being oxidized or decarburized inside the furnace. This is characterized by the fact that, when the workpiece is cooled and the pressure inside the quenching chamber decreases, the atmospheric gas inside the furnace enters the quenching chamber, preventing changes to the environment inside the furnace or the quenching chamber. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a workpiece heated in a heat treatment furnace is immersed in a coolant contained in a coolant tank provided at the bottom of a quenching chamber to cool and quench the workpiece.

[0003] Here, when quenching the heated workpiece by immersing it in a coolant contained in a coolant tank provided at the bottom of the quenching chamber, Patent Document 1 shows that the heated workpiece is led from the exit door of the furnace into a quenching chamber filled with an inert gas such as nitrogen gas, the heated workpiece is immersed in quenching oil contained in a coolant tank provided at the bottom of the quenching chamber, moved through the quenching oil to cool it, and then removed from the coolant tank.

[0004] Patent Document 2 also discloses a method in which a heated workpiece is introduced into a quenching chamber, immersed in water or an aqueous cooling solution contained in a cooling liquid tank provided at the bottom of the quenching chamber, and the heated workpiece is moved through the water or aqueous cooling solution to be rapidly cooled, and then removed from the cooling liquid tank.

[0005] Furthermore, since water has a higher heat transfer coefficient than oil, as shown in Patent Document 2, when a heated workpiece is immersed in water or a cooling aqueous solution to rapidly cool it, the cooling efficiency is better than when the workpiece is immersed in quenching oil, the hardness of the workpiece surface is increased, and the processing time can be shortened.

[0006] On the other hand, as shown in Patent Document 2, when a heated workpiece is rapidly cooled by immersing it in water or a cooling aqueous solution, a large amount of steam (water vapor) is generated because water has a lower boiling point than oil, which increases the pressure in the quenching chamber, causing the steam to enter the furnace through the gap in the inlet door of the quenching chamber and react with the atmospheric gas in the furnace, lowering the carbon potential of the atmospheric gas in the furnace and resulting in the oxidation or decarburization of the workpiece in the furnace.In addition, if the temperature in the quenching chamber drops and the pressure in the chamber drops, the atmospheric gas in the furnace will enter the quenching chamber, causing a problem of changes in the environment inside the furnace and the quenching chamber. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Publication number 2-41156 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-97520 DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] The present invention aims to solve the above-mentioned problems in a water-cooled quenching apparatus in which a workpiece heated in a furnace is introduced into the quenching chamber by opening the introduction door of the quenching chamber, the heated workpiece is cooled by immersing it in water or an aqueous cooling solution contained in a cooling liquid tank provided below the quenching chamber, and the cooled workpiece is removed from the quenching chamber by opening the removal door of the quenching chamber, and in a water-cooled quenching apparatus in which a workpiece heated in a furnace is introduced into the quenching chamber by opening the introduction door of the quenching chamber, the heated workpiece is cooled by immersing it in water or an aqueous cooling solution contained in a cooling liquid tank provided below the quenching chamber, and the cooled workpiece is moved horizontally through the water or aqueous cooling solution and then lifted and removed from the quenching chamber.

[0009] That is, in the present invention, when a heated workpiece as described above is cooled by immersing it in water or an aqueous cooling solution contained in a cooling liquid tank provided at the bottom of the quenching chamber, the pressure inside the quenching chamber increases due to the generated water vapor, and the water vapor enters the furnace through the gap in the inlet door of the quenching chamber and reacts with the atmospheric gas inside the furnace, reducing the carbon potential of the atmospheric gas inside the furnace, thereby preventing the workpiece inside the furnace from being oxidized or decarburized, and also preventing the atmospheric gas inside the furnace from entering the quenching chamber and changing the environment inside the furnace when the temperature inside the quenching chamber drops and the pressure inside the chamber drops. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] In a first water-cooled quenching apparatus according to the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a workpiece heated in a furnace is introduced into the quenching chamber by opening an introduction door of the quenching chamber, the heated workpiece is cooled by immersing it in water or an aqueous cooling solution contained in a cooling liquid tank provided at the bottom of the quenching chamber, and the cooled workpiece is removed from the quenching chamber by opening an extraction door of the quenching chamber. In this water-cooled quenching apparatus, a pressure adjustment device is provided to adjust the pressure within the quenching chamber, and when the introduction door and extraction door are closed, the heated workpiece is cooled by immersing it in water or an aqueous cooling solution contained in the cooling liquid tank, and the pressure adjustment device exhausts gas from the quenching chamber when the pressure within the quenching chamber increases, and draws exhaust gas into the quenching chamber when the pressure within the quenching chamber decreases, thereby adjusting the pressure within the quenching chamber to a predetermined pressure.

[0011] In addition, in a second water-cooled quenching apparatus according to the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a workpiece heated in a furnace is introduced into the quenching chamber by opening an introduction door of the quenching chamber, the heated workpiece is cooled by immersing it in water or an aqueous cooling solution contained in a cooling liquid tank provided at the bottom of the quenching chamber, and the cooled workpiece is moved horizontally through the water or aqueous cooling solution and then raised and removed from the quenching chamber. In this water-cooled quenching apparatus, a pressure adjustment device is provided to adjust the pressure within the quenching chamber, and when the introduction door is closed and the heated workpiece is cooled by immersing it in the water or aqueous cooling solution contained in the cooling liquid tank, the pressure adjustment device exhausts gas within the quenching chamber when the pressure within the quenching chamber increases, and draws exhaust gas into the quenching chamber when the pressure within the quenching chamber decreases, thereby adjusting the pressure within the quenching chamber to a predetermined pressure.

[0012] As in the first and second water-cooled quenching devices according to the present invention, a pressure regulator is provided to adjust the pressure inside the quenching chamber. When a heated workpiece is immersed in water or an aqueous cooling solution contained in the cooling liquid tank to cool it, if a large amount of water vapor is generated and the pressure inside the quenching chamber rises, the pressure regulator exhausts the gas inside the quenching chamber and adjusts the pressure inside the quenching chamber to a predetermined pressure, preventing water vapor from entering the furnace through a gap in the quenching chamber inlet door and reacting with the atmospheric gas inside the furnace. Furthermore, when the temperature inside the quenching chamber drops and the pressure inside the quenching chamber drops, exhaust gas is drawn into the quenching chamber to adjust the pressure inside the quenching chamber to a predetermined pressure, preventing the atmospheric gas inside the furnace from entering the quenching chamber. Furthermore, because exhaust gas is drawn into the quenching chamber, costs are reduced compared to when an inert gas such as nitrogen gas is drawn in.

[0013] Here, in the first and second water-cooled quenching devices according to the present invention, a combustion device can be provided as the pressure adjustment device at the intake and exhaust port of the intake and exhaust section that exhausts gas from the quenching chamber and draws exhaust gas into the quenching chamber, so that when the pressure in the quenching chamber increases, the gas from the quenching chamber is exhausted from the intake and exhaust port, and when the pressure in the quenching chamber decreases, the exhaust gas combusted by the combustion device is drawn into the quenching chamber from the intake and exhaust port.

[0014] In the first and second water-cooled quenching devices according to the present invention, a second introduction door can be provided upstream of the quenching chamber, and a buffer chamber can be formed between the introduction door and the second introduction door.

[0015] Furthermore, when the second introduction door located upstream of the buffer chamber is closed as described above, even if a large amount of water vapor flows into the quenching chamber all at once when the heated workpiece is immersed in water or an aqueous cooling solution contained in the cooling liquid tank to cool it, the water vapor is further prevented from entering the furnace and reacting with the atmospheric gas inside the furnace.In addition, even if the temperature inside the quenching chamber drops and the pressure inside the chamber drops, the atmospheric gas inside the furnace is further prevented from entering the quenching chamber.

[0016] In the first and second water-cooled quenching devices according to the present invention, it is preferable to use a porous material for the second introduction door provided upstream of the buffer chamber, and for example, insulating bricks or ceramic fiber can be used. [Effects of the Invention]

[0017] In the first and second water-cooled quenching devices of the present invention, a pressure adjusting device is provided to adjust the pressure inside the quenching chamber as described above. When a heated workpiece is immersed in water or a cooling aqueous solution contained in a cooling liquid tank provided below the quenching chamber to cool it, if a large amount of water vapor is generated and the pressure inside the quenching chamber increases, the pressure adjusting device exhausts the gas inside the quenching chamber, adjusting the pressure inside the quenching chamber to a predetermined pressure. On the other hand, if the temperature inside the quenching chamber decreases and the pressure inside the quenching chamber decreases, the exhaust gas is sucked into the quenching chamber, adjusting the pressure inside the quenching chamber to a predetermined pressure.

[0018] As a result, in the first and second water-cooled quenching devices of the present invention, even if a large amount of water vapor is generated when a heated workpiece is cooled by immersing it in water or a cooling aqueous solution contained in a coolant tank provided at the bottom of the quenching chamber, the water vapor is prevented from entering the furnace through the gap in the quenching chamber's inlet door and reacting with the atmospheric gas in the furnace, reducing the carbon potential of the atmospheric gas in the furnace and preventing the workpiece from being oxidized or decarburized. Furthermore, when the temperature in the quenching chamber drops and the pressure therein decreases, exhaust gas is drawn into the quenching chamber, adjusting the pressure therein to a predetermined pressure and preventing the atmospheric gas in the furnace from entering the quenching chamber. Furthermore, because exhaust gas is drawn into the quenching chamber, costs are reduced compared to when an inert gas such as nitrogen gas is drawn in. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1]FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional explanatory diagram showing a state in which gas in the quenching chamber is exhausted from the quenching chamber when a workpiece heated in a furnace is introduced into the quenching chamber by opening and closing an inlet door of the quenching chamber in a water-cooled quenching device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and the heated workpiece is immersed in water contained in a cooling liquid tank to be cooled. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which, in the water-cooled quenching apparatus according to the first embodiment, a workpiece is cooled in a cooling liquid tank and returned to the quenching chamber, and when the pressure in the quenching chamber decreases, exhaust gas is drawn into the quenching chamber, and then the cooled workpiece is taken out of the quenching chamber by opening and closing the removal door of the quenching chamber. [Figure 3] This is a schematic cross-sectional explanatory diagram showing a modified example of the water-cooled quenching apparatus according to the first embodiment, in which a second introduction door is provided upstream of the quenching chamber, and a buffer chamber is formed between the introduction door and the second introduction door. The workpiece heated in the furnace is introduced into the buffer chamber by opening and closing the second introduction door of the buffer chamber, and then the introduction door of the quenching chamber is opened and closed to introduce the workpiece into the quenching chamber, and the heated workpiece is immersed in water contained in a cooling liquid tank to cool it. The diagram shows a state in which gas in the quenching chamber is exhausted from the quenching chamber. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the modified example in which the workpiece is cooled in a cooling liquid tank and returned to the quenching chamber, and when the pressure in the quenching chamber drops, exhaust gas is drawn into the quenching chamber, and then the cooled workpiece is removed from the quenching chamber to the outside by opening and closing the removal door of the quenching chamber. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a schematic top view showing an intake and exhaust port and a combustion device for supplying and exhausting air in a quenching chamber. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional explanatory diagram showing the state in which gas in the quenching chamber is exhausted from the quenching chamber when, in a water-cooled quenching device according to embodiment 2 of the present invention, a workpiece heated in a furnace is introduced into the quenching chamber by opening and closing the inlet door of the quenching chamber, the heated workpiece is immersed in water contained in a cooling liquid tank to cool it, and then moved horizontally through the water and then raised and removed from the quenching chamber. [Figure 7]FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a water-cooled quenching apparatus according to the second embodiment, in which a workpiece is cooled in a cooling liquid tank and returned to the quenching chamber, and when the pressure in the quenching chamber drops, exhaust gas is drawn into the quenching chamber; the cooled workpiece is then moved horizontally through the water, then raised, and removed from the quenching chamber to the outside. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0020] The water-cooled quenching apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the water-cooled quenching apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to the embodiment shown below, and can be appropriately modified and implemented within the scope of the invention.

[0021] (Embodiment 1) In the water-cooled quenching apparatus of embodiment 1, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the workpiece W heated in the furnace 1 is introduced from the furnace 1 into the quenching chamber 10 by opening and closing the introduction door 11 of the quenching chamber 10, and the workpiece W quenched in the quenching chamber 10 is removed from the quenching chamber 10 to the outside by opening and closing the removal door 12 of the quenching chamber 10.

[0022] In addition, in the water-cooled quenching apparatus of this embodiment 1, a cooling liquid tank 13 containing water (or a cooling aqueous solution) c for cooling the heated workpiece W is provided at the bottom of the quenching chamber 10, an intake and exhaust section 21 is provided at the top of the quenching chamber 10 as a pressure adjustment device 20 for adjusting the pressure inside the quenching chamber 10, and a combustion device 23 (disc burner) 23 with a circular nozzle 24 facing outward as shown in Figure 5 is provided at the intake and exhaust port 22 of the intake and exhaust section 21, and this combustion device 23 burns fuel to form a flame F, and exhaust gas A2 is generated at the intake and exhaust port 22 of the intake and exhaust section 21.

[0023] In the water-cooled quenching apparatus of this embodiment 1, as shown in FIG. 1, the workpiece W heated in the furnace 1 is introduced into the quenching chamber 10 by opening and closing the introduction door 11 of the quenching chamber 10, and then the heated workpiece W is immersed in water c contained in a cooling liquid tank 13 provided at the bottom of the quenching chamber 10 to cool (quench).

[0024] Here, when the heated workpiece W is introduced into the quenching chamber 10 as described above, the temperature of the atmosphere A1 inside the quenching chamber 10 rises and expands. After that, when the heated workpiece W is immersed in water c contained in a coolant tank 13 provided at the bottom of the quenching chamber 10, the heat of the heated workpiece W causes the water c to evaporate, generating water vapor A3, and the pressure inside the quenching chamber 10 increases.

[0025] When the pressure inside the quenching chamber 10 increases in this way and becomes higher than atmospheric pressure, the atmosphere A1 and water vapor A3 inside the quenching chamber 10 are exhausted through the intake and exhaust section 21 and the intake and exhaust port 22 on the outer periphery of the combustion device 23, and the pressure inside the quenching chamber 10 is adjusted to a predetermined pressure (atmospheric pressure).

[0026] As a result, the pressure inside the quenching chamber 10 increases, preventing the atmosphere A1 containing water vapor A3 in the quenching chamber 10 from entering the furnace 1 through the gap in the introduction door 11 in the quenching chamber 10, preventing the atmosphere A1 containing water vapor A3 from reacting with the atmospheric gas inside the furnace 1, reducing the carbon potential of the atmospheric gas inside the furnace 1, and preventing the workpiece W inside the furnace 1 from being oxidized or decarbonized.

[0027] After the atmosphere A1 in the quenching chamber 10 containing the water vapor A3 is exhausted to the outside through the intake and exhaust port 22 as described above, the workpiece W that has been immersed in water c and cooled is returned to the quenching chamber 10 as shown in FIG. 2, and the removal door 12 of the quenching chamber 10 is opened and closed to remove the workpiece W from the quenching chamber 10 to the outside.

[0028] Here, immediately after the workpiece W is immersed in the water c, the temperature inside the quenching chamber 10 drops, the pressure inside the quenching chamber 10 drops, and the exhaust gas A2 generated at the intake and exhaust port 22 on the outer periphery of the combustion device 23 in the intake and exhaust section 21 as described above when the fuel is burned by the combustion device 23 is sucked into the quenching chamber 10 through the intake and exhaust section 21, and the pressure inside the quenching chamber 10 is adjusted to a predetermined pressure (atmospheric pressure).

[0029] As a result, even if the temperature inside the quenching chamber 10 drops, the pressure inside the quenching chamber 10 is reduced, preventing the atmospheric gas inside the furnace 1 from entering the quenching chamber 10. In addition, since exhaust gas A2 that does not contain oxygen is drawn into the quenching chamber 10, costs are reduced compared to when an expensive inert gas such as nitrogen gas is drawn in.

[0030] Here, in the water-cooled quenching apparatus of this embodiment 1, the workpiece W heated in the furnace 1 is introduced directly from the furnace 1 into the quenching chamber 10 by opening and closing the introduction door 11 of the quenching chamber 10. However, as in the modified example shown in Figures 3 and 4, a second introduction door 31 can be provided upstream of the quenching chamber 10, and the space between the introduction door 11 and the second introduction door 31 can be used as a buffer chamber 30.

[0031] In this way, when a second introduction door 31 is provided upstream of the quenching chamber 10 and the space between the introduction door 11 and the second introduction door 31 is made into the buffer chamber 30, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, the workpiece W heated in the furnace 1 is introduced from the furnace 1 into the buffer chamber 30 by opening and closing the second introduction door 31, and then the heated workpiece W introduced into the buffer chamber 30 is introduced from the furnace 1 into the quenching chamber 10 by opening and closing the introduction door 11 of the quenching chamber 10, as in the above embodiment. The heated workpiece W in the quenching chamber 10 is then immersed in water c contained in the cooling liquid tank 13 provided at the bottom of the quenching chamber 10 as described above to cool it, and the cooled workpiece W is then returned to the quenching chamber 10, and the removal door 12 of the quenching chamber 10 is opened and closed to remove the workpiece W from the quenching chamber 10 to the outside.

[0032] In this way, when a second introduction door 31 is provided upstream of the quenching chamber 10 and the space between the introduction door 11 and the second introduction door 31 is made into the buffer chamber 30, as shown in Figure 3, when the heated workpiece W is introduced into the quenching chamber 10 from the buffer chamber 30, the atmosphere A1 inside the quenching chamber 10 expands as described above. Furthermore, when the heated workpiece W is immersed in water c contained in a coolant tank 13 provided at the bottom of the quenching chamber 10, the heat of the heated workpiece W evaporates the water c, generating steam A3, and the pressure inside the quenching chamber 10 increases.

[0033] Then, when the pressure inside the quenching chamber 10 becomes higher than atmospheric pressure, as in the above embodiment, the atmosphere A1 and water vapor A3 inside the quenching chamber 10 are exhausted from the intake and exhaust port 22 through the intake and exhaust section 21, and the pressure inside the quenching chamber 10 is adjusted to a predetermined pressure (atmospheric pressure).

[0034] Here, as shown in this modified example, if a second introduction door 31 is provided upstream of the quenching chamber 10 and the space between the introduction door 11 and the second introduction door 31 is made into a buffer chamber 30, even if the pressure inside the quenching chamber 10 increases as described above and the atmosphere A1 containing water vapor A3 inside the quenching chamber 10 leaks out through the gap in the introduction door 11 in the quenching chamber 10, the leaked atmosphere A1 containing water vapor A3 will only flow into the buffer chamber 30 and will be prevented from flowing into the furnace 1.

[0035] Furthermore, if the second inlet door 31 is made of insulating bricks or ceramic fiber, the atmosphere A1 containing water vapor A3 that has flowed into the buffer chamber 30 is absorbed by the surface of the insulating bricks or ceramic fiber, thereby preventing it from flowing into the furnace 1.

[0036] As a result, even if the pressure in the quenching chamber 10 becomes even higher, the atmosphere A1 containing water vapor A3 in the quenching chamber 10 is prevented from entering the furnace 1, and the atmosphere A1 containing water vapor A3 is prevented from reacting with the atmospheric gas in the furnace 1, so that the carbon potential of the atmospheric gas in the furnace 1 decreases, and the workpiece W in the furnace 1 is not oxidized or decarburized.

[0037] After the atmosphere A1 and water vapor A3 inside the quenching chamber 10 have been exhausted to the outside through the intake and exhaust port 22 as described above, the workpiece W that has been immersed in water c and cooled is returned to the quenching chamber 10 as shown in FIG. 4, and the removal door 12 of the quenching chamber 10 is opened and closed to remove the workpiece W from the quenching chamber 10 to the outside.

[0038] Here, immediately after the workpiece W is immersed in the water c, the temperature inside the quenching chamber 10 drops and the pressure inside the quenching chamber 10 drops. As in the above embodiment, the fuel is burned by the combustion device 23 as described above, and the exhaust gas A2 generated at the intake and exhaust port 22 of the intake and exhaust section 21 is drawn into the quenching chamber 10 through the intake and exhaust section 21, and the pressure inside the quenching chamber 10 is adjusted to a predetermined pressure (atmospheric pressure).

[0039] As a result, as shown in this modified example, by providing a buffer chamber 30 between the furnace 1 and the quenching chamber 10, when the pressure in the quenching chamber 10 drops as described above, the buffer chamber 30 can more reliably prevent the atmospheric gas in the furnace 1 from entering the quenching chamber 10, and since the exhaust gas A2 is drawn into the quenching chamber 10, costs are reduced compared to when an inert gas such as nitrogen gas is drawn in.

[0040] (Embodiment 2) In the water-cooled quenching apparatus of the second embodiment, when the workpiece W cooled in the cooling liquid tank 13 is removed from the quenching chamber 10, instead of the removal door 12 shown in the first embodiment, the cooling liquid tank 13 can be extended in the direction of travel of the workpiece W, as shown in FIG. 6, and the lower end 41 of a water sealing wall 40 provided at the bottom of the quenching chamber 10 can be immersed in water c, thereby isolating the inside of the quenching chamber 10 from the outside air. The workpiece W immersed in the water c can then be moved horizontally through the water c, as shown in FIG. 7, under the lower end 41 of the water sealing wall 40, and the cooled workpiece W can then be raised and removed from the quenching chamber 10.

[0041] Here, if an extraction door 12 is provided as in the above-described embodiment 1, when the extraction door 12 is opened, outside air (air) will randomly enter the quenching chamber 10, causing the temperature distribution of the workpiece W to vary before the workpiece W is moved out of the quenching chamber 10. However, if the structure shown in embodiment 2 is used, the inside of the quenching chamber 10 can be completely isolated from the outside air at all times, and when the workpiece W is removed from the water c, the workpiece W can be exposed to the outside air all at once, thereby reducing the variation in the temperature distribution of the workpiece W and improving the accuracy of the quenching process.

[0042] Although not shown, in the water-cooled quenching device of embodiment 2, as shown in the modified example of embodiment 1, a second introduction door 31 can be provided upstream of the quenching chamber 10, and the space between the introduction door 11 and the second introduction door 31 can be used as a buffer chamber 30. [Explanation of symbols]

[0043] 1: Furnace 10: Quenching room 11: Entry door 12: Removal door 13:Cooling liquid tank 20: Pressure regulator 21: Intake and exhaust section 22: Intake and exhaust vent 23: Combustion equipment 24: Nozzle 30: Buffer chamber 31: Second entrance door 40: Water seal wall 41: Bottom edge A1: Atmosphere A2: Exhaust gas A3: Water vapor W: Work c: Water (cooling aqueous solution) F:Flame

Claims

1. 1. A water-cooled quenching apparatus in which a workpiece heated in a furnace is introduced into the quenching chamber by opening an introduction door of the quenching chamber, the heated workpiece is cooled by immersing it in water or a cooling aqueous solution contained in a cooling liquid tank provided at the bottom of the quenching chamber, and the cooled workpiece is removed from the quenching chamber by opening an extraction door of the quenching chamber. A water-cooled quenching apparatus is provided with a pressure regulator for adjusting the pressure within the quenching chamber, and when the introduction door and extraction door are closed and the heated workpiece is cooled by immersing it in the water or a cooling aqueous solution contained in the cooling liquid tank, the pressure regulator exhausts gas from the quenching chamber when the pressure within the quenching chamber increases, and when the pressure within the quenching chamber decreases, the pressure regulator adjusts the pressure within the quenching chamber to a predetermined pressure.

2. 2. The water-cooled quenching treatment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pressure adjusting device is a combustion device provided at an intake and exhaust port in an intake and exhaust section that exhausts gas from the quenching chamber and draws exhaust gas into the quenching chamber, so that when the pressure in the quenching chamber increases, the gas in the quenching chamber is exhausted from the intake and exhaust port, while when the pressure in the quenching chamber decreases, the exhaust gas combusted by the combustion device is drawn into the quenching chamber from the intake and exhaust port.

3. 3. The water-cooling type quenching treatment apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second introduction door provided upstream of the quenching chamber, and a buffer chamber formed between the introduction door and the second introduction door.

4. 4. The water-cooling type quenching treatment apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the second introduction door in the buffer chamber is made of heat insulating bricks or ceramic fiber.

5. 1. A water-cooled quenching apparatus in which a workpiece heated in a furnace is introduced into the quenching chamber through an introduction door of the quenching chamber, the heated workpiece is cooled by being immersed in water or an aqueous cooling solution contained in a cooling liquid tank provided below the quenching chamber, and the cooled workpiece is moved horizontally through the water or aqueous cooling solution and then raised and removed from the quenching chamber. The water-cooled quenching apparatus is provided with a pressure regulator for adjusting the pressure within the quenching chamber, and when the introduction door is closed and the heated workpiece is cooled by being immersed in the water or aqueous cooling solution contained in the cooling liquid tank, the pressure regulator exhausts gas from the quenching chamber when the pressure within the quenching chamber increases, and when the pressure within the quenching chamber decreases, the pressure regulator draws exhaust gas into the quenching chamber, thereby adjusting the pressure within the quenching chamber to a predetermined pressure.

6. 6. The water-cooled quenching treatment apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the pressure adjusting device is a combustion device provided at an intake and exhaust port in an intake and exhaust section that exhausts gas from the quenching chamber and draws exhaust gas into the quenching chamber, so that when the pressure in the quenching chamber increases, the gas in the quenching chamber is exhausted from the intake and exhaust port, while when the pressure in the quenching chamber decreases, the exhaust gas combusted by the combustion device is drawn into the quenching chamber from the intake and exhaust port.

7. 7. The water-cooling type quenching treatment apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a second introduction door provided upstream of the quenching chamber, and a buffer chamber formed between the introduction door and the second introduction door.

8. 8. The water-cooling type quenching treatment apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the second introduction door in the buffer chamber is made of heat insulating bricks or ceramic fiber.

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