Isostatic pressurizing device

Abstract

To enable a pressure process to be performed at required pressure by suppressing solidification of a pressure medium.SOLUTION: An isostatic pressure device 10 uses a pressure medium having a nature of higher viscosity as pressure is higher. This isostatic pressure device 10 comprises: a pressure container 12 in which a processing space 12a capable of receiving the pressure medium is formed; a booster 14 that pressurizes the pressure medium so as to obtain set pressure in the processing space 12a; a first heater 37 provided in a high-pressure piping 32 for connecting the booster 14 and the pressure container 12 to heat the pressure medium yet to be introduced into the processing space 12a to a target temperature; and a second heater 39 provided in a part of the high-pressure piping 32 on the upstream side of the first heater 37 to heat the pressure medium until the first heater 37 is reached.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an isostatic pressure pressurizing device.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as a device for pressurizing a workpiece, an isostatic pressure pressurizing device that pressurizes the inside of a pressure vessel in which the workpiece is disposed with a liquid pressure medium such as water is known. As an isostatic pressure pressurizing device, as disclosed in Patent Document 1 below, a warm isostatic pressure pressurizing device (WIP: Warm Isostatic Pressing) that also performs a heating process together with the pressurizing process is also known. As shown in FIG. 8, the isostatic pressure pressurizing device 90 disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a pressure vessel 91 provided with a processing space 91a for performing a pressurizing process on a workpiece, and a pressure booster 92 for pressurizing the pressure medium supplied to the processing space 91a. Further, in the isostatic pressure pressurizing device 10, a heater 94 and a cooler 95 are provided in a circulation path 93 for circulating the pressure medium between the pressure booster 92 and the pressure vessel 91 so that a predetermined processing temperature can be obtained in the processing space 91a.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In isotropic pressurization apparatuses, to accommodate pressurization under higher temperature conditions, it may be possible to use a pressurization medium with a high boiling point and high flash point instead of water as the liquid pressurization medium. Using such a pressurization medium allows the pressurization medium to be increased to high pressure without boiling or ignition. However, since pressurization mediums with high boiling points and high flash points often have high viscosity, when the pressurization medium is pressurized to high pressure, its viscosity increases in proportion to the increase in pressure. This raises concerns that the fluidity of the pressurization medium may decrease. In such cases, for example, when increasing the pressure to a range of approximately 400 MPa, a significant decrease in the rate of pressurization when increasing the processing space to the set pressure may occur. Furthermore, in the range of even higher pressures, there is a risk that the pressurization medium may begin to solidify. If the pressurization medium begins to solidify, the hydrostatic pressure of the pressurization medium will not increase any further, and there is a risk that pressurization at the required pressure cannot be performed. In addition, the isotropic pressurizing device 90 disclosed in Patent Document 1 is equipped with a heater 94 for heating the pressure medium, so that the pressure vessel 91 can reach a target temperature and perform isotropic pressurizing. However, isotropic pressurizing is not performed to the extent that the pressure medium is pressurized to a pressure that can solidify.

[0005] Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned prior art, and its object is to provide an isostatic pressurizing device that can suppress the solidification of the pressure medium and perform pressurizing treatment at the required pressure. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] To achieve the above objective, the isotropic pressurizing apparatus according to the present invention is an isotropic pressurizing apparatus that performs isotropic pressurizing on an object to be processed under a set pressure using a pressure medium having the property that viscosity increases as the pressure increases, and comprises a pressure vessel having a processing space formed therein that can receive the pressure medium, and in the processing space This is the pressure required for isostatic pressurization of the workpiece. A pressure intensifier that pressurizes a pressure medium to obtain a set pressure, and the pressure intensifier and the pressure vessel the processing spaceThe system includes a first heater provided in the high-pressure piping connecting the two, which heats the pressure medium to a target temperature before it is introduced into the processing space, and a second heater provided in the high-pressure piping upstream of the first heater, which heats the pressure medium before it reaches the first heater.

[0007] In the isotropic pressurizing device according to the present invention, a pressure medium is pressurized by a pressure intensifier so that the pressure in the processing space of the pressure vessel becomes a set pressure. The pressurized pressure medium is heated by a first heater to a target temperature before being introduced into the processing space. This allows isotropic pressurizing treatment to be performed on the workpiece in the processing space using a pressure medium that is at a predetermined temperature and has a set pressure. On the other hand, since the pressure medium has the property of becoming more viscous when pressurized, there is a risk that the fluidity of the pressure medium will decrease due to partial solidification in the high-pressure piping from the pressure intensifier to the pressure vessel up to the point where it is heated by the first heater. However, a second heater is provided in the high-pressure piping between the pressure intensifier and the first heater to heat the pressure medium. This makes it possible to suppress clogging of the pressure medium in the high-pressure piping due to decreased fluidity in the section up to the first heater.

[0008] In other words, depending on the purpose of isotropic pressurization treatment of the material to be processed, the pressure medium may be pressurized to a pressure range in which solidification of the pressure medium may occur. In that case, the temperature of the pressure medium sent from the pressure intensifier decreases due to heat dissipation into the high-pressure piping, which can increase the viscosity of the pressure medium and cause it to start to solidify. In particular, the longer the high-pressure piping, the greater the decrease in temperature. Therefore, the risk of clogging of the high-pressure piping increases in the section before it is heated in the first heater. However, since a second heater is provided in the high-pressure piping between the pressure intensifier and the first heater, the increase in viscosity of the pressure medium in the section before it reaches the first heater can be suppressed, thereby preventing clogging of the pressure medium in the high-pressure piping. This prevents a situation in which the pressure medium cannot be pressurized to the set pressure (i.e., the required pressure). Therefore, this is effective in isotropic pressurization devices that pressurize the pressure medium to a pressure range in which solidification of the pressure medium would begin without assistance to improve fluidity by heating for isotropic pressurization treatment.

[0009] The pressure booster may be composed of a double-acting compressor having a first cylinder housing a first piston and a second cylinder housing a second piston. In this case, the high-pressure piping may include a first pipe connected to the outlet of the first cylinder, a second pipe connected to the outlet of the second cylinder, and a third pipe extending from the junction of the first and second pipes to the first heater. The second heater may also be located in at least one of the first and second pipes.

[0010] In this embodiment, the second heater can heat the pressure medium at the point where flow occurs toward the confluence of the first and second pipes. That is, when flow of the pressure medium toward the confluence occurs in one pipe, the flow of the pressure medium toward the confluence from the other pipe may cause a decrease in the fluidity of the pressure medium in that pipe. Therefore, by heating the pressure medium with the second heater at the point where flow toward the confluence occurs, the decrease in fluidity upstream of the confluence can be suppressed. In this case, since the amount of heat dissipated from each pipe changes depending on the length of the first and second pipes, the second heater only needs to be placed in at least one of the first and second pipes, depending on the length of the first and second pipes. Furthermore, since fluidity tends to decrease near the confluence, it is preferable that the second heater be placed in a region of the first and second pipes that includes at least the region adjacent to the confluence.

[0011] The high-pressure piping comprises a piping section, another piping section, and a narrow-diameter section disposed between the piping section and the other piping section, wherein the narrow-diameter section may have an inner diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the piping section and the inner diameter of the other piping section. In this case, the second heater may be provided in the narrow-diameter section.

[0012] In this embodiment, in the narrow-diameter section of the high-pressure piping, which has an inner diameter smaller than that of adjacent piping sections and other piping sections, the pressure medium is heated by the second heater. Therefore, clogging of the pressure medium due to reduced fluidity of the pressure medium in the section with a smaller inner diameter compared to other sections, which is prone to clogging when viscosity is high, can be suppressed. For example, in a joint section connecting one piping section to another, the inner diameter may be smaller than that of the other piping section in order to ensure strength. In that case, clogging of the pressure medium within the joint section can be suppressed.

[0013] The high-pressure piping may have a bend. In this case, the second heater may be positioned downstream of the bend so as to be adjacent to the bend.

[0014] In this embodiment, immediately downstream of a bend in the high-pressure piping, the flow velocity of the pressure medium decreases due to pressure loss at the bend. That is, in high-pressure piping, the pressure medium is pressurized by a pressure booster, resulting in high pressure. On the other hand, at the bend, the pressure temporarily decreases due to pressure loss, so the flow velocity of the pressure medium decreases immediately downstream of the bend, which can cause poor flow. Therefore, by arranging a second heater downstream of the bend so as to be adjacent to the bend, clogging of the pressure medium due to decreased fluidity immediately downstream of the bend can be suppressed.

[0015] The second heater may be positioned adjacent to the outlet of the pressure medium in the pressure intensifier. In this embodiment, the pressure medium, which has been pressurized by the pressure intensifier, is heated by the second heater when it is discharged from the pressure intensifier. For example, it may be possible to increase the fluidity of the pressure medium by supplying the pressure medium, which has been preheated in a tank, to the pressure intensifier. However, in that case, the temperature of the pressure medium will decrease due to heat dissipation not only in the high-pressure piping but also within the pressure intensifier. Therefore, even if the pressure medium is pressurized in advance, there is a risk that its fluidity will decrease at the discharge port of the pressure intensifier. Thus, by heating the high-pressure piping when the pressure medium is discharged from the pressure intensifier, it is possible to ensure that the pressure medium flows through the high-pressure piping in a highly fluid state. In this case, even if the pressure medium dissipates heat into the high-pressure piping, it is possible to suppress the decrease in the fluidity of the pressure medium to the extent that clogging occurs before it reaches the first heater. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] As described above, according to the present invention, solidification of the pressure medium can be suppressed, and pressurization treatment at the required pressure can be performed. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0017] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram showing an isostatic pressurizing device according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a diagram showing the configuration of the second heater. [Figure 3]This is a diagram for explaining a modified example of an isostatic pressure pressurizing device when the lengths of the first pipe and the second pipe are different. [Figure 4] This is a diagram for explaining a modified example of an isostatic pressure pressurizing device when the second heater is provided adjacent to the outlet of the booster. [Figure 5] This is a diagram for explaining a modified example of an isostatic pressure pressurizing device when the booster is constituted by a single-acting compressor. [Figure 6] This is a diagram for explaining a modified example of an isostatic pressure pressurizing device when a bent portion is provided in the high-pressure pipe. [Figure 7] This is a diagram for explaining a modified example of an isostatic pressure pressurizing device when a reduced-diameter portion is provided in the high-pressure pipe. [Figure 8] This is a diagram showing a conventional isostatic pressure pressurizing device.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0018] Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0019] The isostatic pressure pressurizing device according to the present embodiment is a device for performing an isostatic pressure pressurizing process on a workpiece under a set pressure using a pressure medium. Examples of the workpiece include all-solid-state batteries, electronic components, etc. As the pressure medium, a high flash point working oil that does not boil or catch fire even at 200°C, silicone oil, etc. are used. These liquid pressure media have the property that the viscosity increases as the pressure increases. Therefore, when the pressure is increased to a pressure range of about 400 MPa or so, the pressure increase rate may decrease as the fluidity of the pressure medium decreases. Also, in a further high-pressure region, there is a risk that the pressure medium may start to solidify. Therefore, in the isostatic pressure pressurizing device according to the present embodiment, even when the set pressure (the pressure required for the isostatic pressure pressurizing process of the workpiece) is a pressure of about 400 MPa or more, measures are taken to suppress the solidification of the pressure medium.

[0020] As shown in Figure 1, the isotropic pressurizing device 10 according to this embodiment includes a pressure vessel 12 in which a processing space 12a is formed where isotropic pressurizing treatment is performed on an object to be processed by a pressure medium, a pressure intensifier 14 that pressurizes the pressure medium supplied to the pressure vessel 12, and a tank 16 located upstream of the pressure intensifier 14 where the pressure medium is stored.

[0021] Tank 16 is equipped with a heater 16a for heating the pressure medium stored in tank 16. The pressure medium is heated by the first heater 37 and the second heater 39 as described later, but by providing a heater 16a in tank 16, it is possible to prevent the temperature of the pressure medium from rising slowly when the isotropic pressurizing device 10 is started up. Depending on the processing temperature, the heater 16a in tank 16 may be omitted.

[0022] The pressure vessel 12 has a container body 12b with an open top and a lid 12c that opens and closes the upper opening of the container body 12b. The sealed space formed by the container body 12b and the lid 12c becomes the processing space 12a. With the upper opening of the container body 12b open by the lid 12c, the object to be processed can be placed in the processing space 12a, and when isostatic pressurization processing is performed, the upper opening is closed by the lid 12c.

[0023] A flow passage 12d for circulating a heating medium is formed in the side wall of the container body 12b. The heating medium circulates between the flow passage 12d and the heating unit 22 through a medium circulation path 23 by the operation of the pump 21. The heating unit 22 is configured to adjust the temperature of the heating medium. The side wall of the container body 12b is heated by the heating medium flowing into the flow passage 12d, and the temperature inside the processing space 12a is adjusted to a preset processing temperature.

[0024] The pressure booster 14 is composed of a double-acting compressor. Specifically, the pressure booster 14 comprises a cylinder 27 having a first cylinder 25 and a second cylinder 26. A first piston 25a is positioned inside the first cylinder 25, forming a first compression chamber 25b where the pressure medium is pressurized by the first piston 25a. A second piston 26a is positioned inside the second cylinder 26, connected to the first piston 25a, forming a second compression chamber 26b where the pressure medium is pressurized by the second piston 26a.

[0025] The isotropic pressurizing device 10 includes a supply pipe 31 connecting the tank 16 and the pressurizer 14, a high-pressure pipe 32 connecting the pressurizer 14 and the pressure vessel 12, and a return pipe 33 for returning the pressure medium from the pressure vessel 12 to the tank 16. In other words, the isotropic pressurizing device 10 has a circulation path formed between the tank 16, the pressurizer 14, and the pressure vessel 12 that allows the pressure medium to circulate.

[0026] A pump 35 is provided in the supply piping 31, and when the pump 35 is activated, the pressure medium in the tank 16 is sent to the pressure intensifier 14. The supply piping 31 includes a pumping pipe 31a on which the pump 35 is located, a first branch pipe 31b connected to the pumping pipe 31a, and a second branch pipe 31c connected to the pumping pipe 31a so as to branch off from the first branch pipe 31b. The first branch pipe 31b is connected to the first cylinder 25 of the pressure intensifier 14. The second branch pipe 31c is connected to the second cylinder 26. In addition, the supply piping 31 may be wrapped with insulating material to suppress heat dissipation from the pressure medium.

[0027] The first branch pipe 31b is provided with a check valve 31d that allows the flow of the pressure medium from the tank 16 to the first cylinder 25 while preventing flow in the opposite direction. The second branch pipe 31c is provided with a check valve 31e that allows the flow of the pressure medium from the tank 16 to the second cylinder 26 while preventing flow in the opposite direction.

[0028] The high-pressure piping 32 includes a first pipe 32a connected to the first cylinder 25, a second pipe 32b connected to the second cylinder 26, and a third pipe 32c connected to the first pipe 32a and the second pipe 32b, through which a pressure medium formed by the combination of the pressure medium from the first pipe 32a and the pressure medium from the second pipe 32b flows. The high-pressure piping 32 may be wrapped with insulating material to suppress heat dissipation from the pressure medium.

[0029] The first pipe 32a is provided with a check valve 32d that allows the flow of the pressure medium from the first cylinder 25 to the third pipe 32c while preventing flow in the opposite direction. The second pipe 32b is provided with a check valve 32e that allows the flow of the pressure medium from the second cylinder 26 to the third pipe 32c while preventing flow in the opposite direction.

[0030] The third pipe 32c is equipped with a first heater 37 for heating the pressure medium to a target temperature before it is introduced into the processing space 12a. This target temperature is set according to the processing temperature in the processing space 12a.

[0031] The first heater 37 is configured, for example, as an oil bath type heater. That is, the first heater 37 comprises a bath 37a that can hold oil, which is the heating medium, a heating unit 37b for heating the oil, and an oil circulation path 37d in which a pump 37c is arranged to circulate the oil between the bath 37a and the heating unit 37b. The third pipe 32c has a coil-shaped portion (coil section 32f) placed in the oil filling the bath 37a, and the pressure medium of the third pipe 32c is heated by the oil in this coil section 32f. The heating unit 37b is configured to adjust the amount of oil heated so that the temperature of the pressure medium reaches a target temperature. However, the first heater 37 is not limited to this configuration. For example, the first heater 37 may be configured as a heater arranged around the third pipe 32c to heat the third pipe 32c.

[0032] The return pipe 33 is connected to the third pipe 32c of the high-pressure pipe 32 and extends to the pressure vessel 16. The return pipe 33 is equipped with an on / off valve 33a, and by opening the return pipe 33 with the on / off valve 33a, the pressure medium can be returned from the high-pressure pipe 32 or the pressure vessel 12 to the tank 16.

[0033] A second heater 39 is provided in the high-pressure piping 32 upstream of the first heater 37. The second heater 39 is provided to prevent the pressure medium, pressurized by the pressure intensifier 14, from starting to solidify before it reaches the second heater 39. In other words, in the isotropic pressurizing device 10 of this embodiment, the pressure medium can be pressurized by the pressure intensifier 14 to a pressure higher than the pressure at which solidification would begin if it were not heated, so there is a possibility that the pressure medium may start to solidify partially before it reaches the first heater 37. Therefore, by arranging the second heater 39 upstream of the first heater 37 in the high-pressure piping 32, solidification of the pressure medium is suppressed, and clogging of the pressure medium in the high-pressure piping 32 is prevented.

[0034] As shown in Figure 2, the second heater 39 may be composed of a mantle heater. That is, the second heater 39 has an insulating material 40 that is formed in an annular cross-section to cover the outer circumference of the high-pressure pipe 32 and has a part of its circumferential direction interrupted, and heating wires 41 arranged on the inner and outer circumferential surfaces of the insulating material 40. Fasteners 42 such as Velcro (registered trademark) are provided at the part of the insulating material 40 that has a part of its circumferential direction interrupted.

[0035] The second heater 39 may be located anywhere in the high-pressure piping 32 as long as it is upstream of the first heater 37, but in this embodiment, it is located in the first piping 32a and the second piping 32b.

[0036] Specifically, it is preferable that the second heater 39 is provided in the region adjacent to the confluence 44 of the first pipe 32a and the second pipe 32b, and in the region adjacent to the confluence 44 of the second pipe 32b. Here, "adjacent" includes being in contact with the confluence 44, or being in contact with the T-shaped joint constituting the confluence 44, or being in a position where substantially the same effect as if it were in contact with the T-shaped joint constituting the confluence 44 can be obtained.

[0037] By positioning the second heater 39 in the region adjacent to the upstream side of the confluence 44 in one of the pipes 32a and 32b, clogging of the pressure medium in one of the pipes 32a and 32b can be prevented even in regions where the fluidity toward the confluence 44 tends to decrease due to the influence of the flow of the pressure medium from the other pipe 32b and 32a. In other words, by heating the pressure medium, the viscosity of the pressure medium can be reduced, thereby suppressing the decrease in the fluidity of the pressure medium and preventing clogging of the pressure medium in the first pipe 32a and the second pipe 32b. To put it another way, by heating the area where the flow velocity of the pressure medium tends to decrease, the temporary decrease in flow velocity is suppressed.

[0038] The second heater 39 is provided not only in the region adjacent to the confluence 44, but also in the intermediate section between the confluence 44 and the upstream end of the first pipe 32a, and also in the intermediate section between the confluence 44 and the upstream end of the second pipe 32b. Note that there is not limited to just one second heater 39 in this intermediate section, and it is also possible to omit it. Furthermore, the second heater 39 may also be provided in the third pipe 32c.

[0039] Here, we will describe the method of isostatic pressurizing treatment of an object to be treated using the isostatic pressurizing device 10 according to this embodiment.

[0040] First, in the pressure vessel 12, the processing space 12a is opened by the lid 12c and the object to be processed is placed in the processing space 12a. Then, the lid 12c is closed to seal the processing space 12a. Next, the temperature (processing temperature) and pressure (set pressure) for the isostatic pressurization process are set, and the isostatic pressurization device 10 is started.

[0041] Upon activation, the heating unit 22 is activated to heat the heating medium and the pump 21 is activated. As a result, the heating medium circulates between the heating unit 22 and the flow passage 12d provided in the container body 12b, and the pressure vessel 12 is heated. Also upon activation, the heating unit 37b of the first heater 37 is activated to heat the oil, which is the heating medium, and the pump 37c is activated. As a result, the oil circulates through the oil circulation passage 37d, and the heating of the pressure medium by the first heater 37 begins.

[0042] Additionally, the heater 16a of tank 16 is activated, heating the pressure medium inside tank 16, and the second heater 39 also operates. Furthermore, the on / off valve 33a of the return pipe 33 is in the shut-off state.

[0043] Furthermore, upon activation, the intensifier 14 is activated, and the pump 35 in the supply piping 31 is also activated. As a result, the pressure medium in the tank 16 is supplied to the intensifier 14, and the pressure medium is pressurized in the intensifier 14. The pressure medium pressurized by the first cylinder 25 of the intensifier 14 flows through the first piping 32a toward the junction 44, and the pressure medium pressurized by the second cylinder 26 flows through the second piping 32b toward the junction 44. At this time, the pressure medium flowing through the first piping 32a and the pressure medium flowing through the second piping 32b are heated by the second heater 39.

[0044] The pressure media heated in the second heater 39 merge at the confluence 44 and flow through the third pipe 32c. This pressure media is heated to the target temperature in the first heater 37 and introduced into the processing space 12a. In the processing space 12a, the container body 12b is heated by the heat transfer medium, so the temperature of the pressure media in the processing space 12a approaches the processing temperature.

[0045] Furthermore, as the pressurized pressure medium is continuously supplied to the processing space 12a by the pressure booster 14, the pressure in the processing space 12a gradually increases. Consequently, the pressure of the pressure medium in the high-pressure piping 32 also gradually increases. At this time, the viscosity of the pressure medium gradually increases, and its fluidity gradually decreases. However, since the pressure medium is heated by the second heater 39 in the first piping 32a and the second piping 32b, the increase in the viscosity of the pressure medium is suppressed. Therefore, even if the pressure of the pressure medium approaches the set pressure in the first piping 32a and the second piping 32b, which have regions upstream of the confluence 44 where fluidity tends to decrease, the decrease in the fluidity of the pressure medium can be suppressed. In other words, even if the pressure medium is pressurized to a pressure where partial solidification of the pressure medium may occur, heating the pressure medium with the second heater 39 suppresses the increase in viscosity, thus preventing clogging of the first piping 32a and the second piping 32b.

[0046] Then, when the pressure detector (not shown) detects that the pressure in the processing space 12a has reached the set pressure, the pressure intensifier 14 is stopped by a command from the controller (not shown). This maintains the pressure in the processing space 12a at the set pressure. With the temperature in the processing space 12a maintained at the processing temperature, isostatic pressurization is performed for a predetermined time. If the pressure in the processing space 12a drops, the controller restarts the pressure intensifier 14, thereby continuing to maintain the pressure in the processing space 12a at the set pressure.

[0047] As described above, in this embodiment, the pressure medium is pressurized by the pressure intensifier 14 so that the pressure in the processing space 12a of the pressure vessel 12 becomes the set pressure. The pressure medium pressurized by the pressure intensifier 14 is heated by the first heater 37 to the target temperature before being introduced into the processing space 12a. This allows isotropic pressurization treatment to be performed on the workpiece in the processing space 12a using a pressure medium that is at a predetermined temperature and has the set pressure. On the other hand, since the pressure medium has the property of becoming more viscous when pressurized, there is a risk that the fluidity will decrease due to partial solidification of the pressure medium in the high-pressure piping 32 from the pressure intensifier 14 to the pressure vessel 12 up to the point where it is heated by the first heater 37. However, a second heater 39 is provided in the high-pressure piping 32 between the pressure intensifier 14 and the first heater 37 to heat the pressure medium. This prevents clogging of the pressure medium in the high-pressure piping 32 due to decreased fluidity in the section up to the first heater 37.

[0048] In other words, depending on the purpose of isotropic pressurization treatment of the workpiece, the pressure medium may be pressurized to a pressure range where solidification of the pressure medium may occur. In that case, the temperature of the pressure medium sent from the pressure intensifier 14 decreases due to heat dissipation into the high-pressure piping 32, which increases the viscosity of the pressure medium and can cause it to start solidifying. In particular, the longer the high-pressure piping 32, the greater the decrease in temperature. Therefore, there is a higher risk of clogging of the high-pressure piping 32 in the section before it is heated in the first heater 37. However, since the second heater 39 is provided in the high-pressure piping 32 between the pressure intensifier 14 and the first heater 37, the increase in viscosity of the pressure medium in the section before it reaches the first heater 37 can be suppressed, thereby preventing clogging of the pressure medium in the high-pressure piping 32. This prevents a situation in which the pressure medium cannot be pressurized to the set pressure (i.e., the required pressure). Therefore, this is effective in an isotropic pressurizing device 10 that performs isotropic pressurization by pressurizing the pressure medium to a pressure range where solidification would begin without assistance to improve fluidity by heating.

[0049] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a second heater 39 is provided in the first pipe 32a and the second pipe 32b, and this second heater 39 can heat the pressure medium in the area where flow toward the confluence 44 of the first pipe 32a and the second pipe 32b occurs. That is, when flow of the pressure medium toward the confluence 44 occurs in one of the pipes 32a, 32b, the flow of the pressure medium in that one pipe 32a, 32b may decrease due to the influence of the flow of the pressure medium from the other pipe 32b, 32a. For this reason, by heating the pressure medium with the second heater 39 in the area where flow toward the confluence 44 occurs, the decrease in fluidity upstream of the confluence 44 can be suppressed. In that case, since fluidity tends to decrease easily in the vicinity of the confluence 44, it is preferable that the second heater 39 be placed in the area of ​​the first pipe 32a and the second pipe 32b that includes at least the area adjacent to the confluence 44.

[0050] It should be noted that the embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative and not restrictive in all respects. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications and improvements are possible without departing from its spirit. For example, in Figure 1, the first pipe 32a and the second pipe 32b have the same length, so the second heater 39 is provided on both the first pipe 32a and the second pipe 32b, but it is not limited to this. For example, as shown in Figure 3, if the lengths of the first pipe 32a and the second pipe 32b are different, the second heater 39 may be provided only on the longer pipe 32b. This is because the longer pipe 32b has a longer heat dissipation section, making it more prone to clogging of the pressure medium. Figure 3 shows an example where the second pipe 32b is longer than the first pipe 32a, but if the first pipe 32a is longer than the second pipe 32b, the second heater 39 is provided on at least the first pipe 32a.

[0051] As shown in Figure 4, the second heater 39 may be provided adjacent to the outlet 14a of the pressure medium in the pressure intensifier 14 in the first piping 32a, or adjacent to the outlet 14a of the pressure medium in the pressure intensifier 14 in the second piping 32b. That is, the second heater 39 may be positioned in contact with the outlet 14a of the pressure intensifier 14, or even if it is not in contact with the outlet 14a of the pressure intensifier 14, it may be positioned close enough to achieve substantially the same effect as if it were positioned in contact with the outlet 14a. Furthermore, if the first piping 32a and the second piping 32b have a bend 46, the second heater 39 may be positioned between the outlet 14a of the pressure intensifier 14 and the bend 46. In this case, since the pressure medium pressurized by the pressure intensifier 14 is heated by the second heater 39 as it flows out of the pressure intensifier 14, the pressure medium flows through the high-pressure piping 32 in a state of higher fluidity, even though it has been pressurized by the pressure intensifier 14. Therefore, even if the pressure medium dissipates heat into the high-pressure piping 32, it is possible to suppress the decrease in the fluidity of the pressure medium to the extent that clogging occurs before it reaches the first heater 37.

[0052] In the above embodiment, the pressure intensifier 14 is configured as a double-acting compressor, but it is not limited to this. For example, as shown in Figure 5, the pressure intensifier 14 may be configured as a single-acting compressor having one piston 27a and a compression chamber 27b. In this case as well, the second heater 39 may be provided adjacent to the outlet 14a of the pressure medium in the pressure intensifier 14. That is, the second heater 39 may be in contact with the outlet 14a, or even if it is not in contact, it may be provided in close proximity to the outlet 14a to obtain substantially the same effect as if it were positioned in contact with the outlet 14a. Alternatively, the second heater 39 may be provided in the high-pressure piping 32 up to the first bend.

[0053] As shown in Figure 6, when a bend 46 is provided in the high-pressure piping 32, the second heater 39 may be positioned adjacent to the downstream side of the bend 46. That is, the second heater 39 may be positioned adjacent to the joint member that constitutes the bend 46 on the downstream side of the joint member, or even if it is not in contact with the joint member, it may be positioned close enough to achieve substantially the same effect as if it were in contact with it.

[0054] In this case, immediately downstream of the bend 46 of the high-pressure piping 32, the flow velocity of the pressure medium decreases due to the pressure loss at the bend 46. That is, in the high-pressure piping 32, the pressure medium becomes high pressure because it is pressurized by the pressure booster 14. On the other hand, at the bend 46, the pressure temporarily decreases due to the pressure loss, so the flow velocity of the pressure medium decreases immediately downstream of the bend 46, which can cause poor flow. Therefore, by arranging the second heater 39 downstream of the bend 46 so as to be adjacent to the bend 46, clogging of the pressure medium due to decreased fluidity immediately downstream of the bend 46 can be suppressed.

[0055] As shown in Figure 7, when a narrow-diameter section 49 is provided in the high-pressure piping 32, it is preferable that the second heater 39 be provided in the narrow-diameter section 49. For example, when the high-pressure piping 32 is configured to connect a pipe section 47a and another pipe section 47b, a joint section 48 is provided between the pipe section 47a and the other pipe section 47b. In this case, in order to ensure the strength of the high-pressure piping 32, which becomes very high pressure, the inner diameter of the joint section 48 tends to be smaller than the inner diameter of the pipe section 47a and the inner diameter of the other pipe section 47b. In this case, by providing the second heater 39 in the joint section 48 which is the narrow-diameter section 49, the decrease in fluidity of the pressure medium is suppressed in the narrow-diameter section 49, where the inner diameter is smaller than the upstream and downstream sections and fluidity tends to decrease. Therefore, it is possible to suppress clogging of the pressure medium due to a decrease in fluidity of the pressure medium in the area with a smaller inner diameter compared to other areas, which is prone to clogging when viscosity is high. [Explanation of symbols]

[0056] 10: Isostatic Pressurizing Device 12: Pressure vessel 12a: Processing space 14: Pressure booster 14a:Exit 25: First cylinder 25a: First piston 26: Second cylinder 26a: Second piston 32: High-pressure piping 32a: First piping 32b: 2nd piping 32c: 3rd pipe 33: Return piping 37: 1st heater 39:Second heater 44: Confluence 46: Bending section 47a: Piping section 47b: Other piping sections 49: Thin section 90: Isostatic pressurizing device

Claims

1. An isostatic pressurizing apparatus that uses a pressure medium having the property of increasing viscosity as the pressure increases, to perform isostatic pressurizing on a workpiece under a set pressure, A pressure vessel having a processing space formed that is capable of receiving a pressure medium, A pressure intensifier is used to pressurize a pressure medium in the processing space so that a set pressure, which is the pressure required for isotropic pressurization of the workpiece, A first heater is provided in the high-pressure piping connecting the pressurizer and the processing space of the pressure vessel, and heats the pressure medium to a target temperature before it is introduced into the processing space. In the high-pressure piping, a second heater is provided upstream of the first heater and heats the pressure medium before it reaches the first heater, An isotropic pressurizing device equipped with the necessary components.

2. The aforementioned pressure booster is composed of a double-acting compressor having a first cylinder housing a first piston and a second cylinder housing a second piston. The high-pressure piping comprises a first pipe connected to the outlet of the first cylinder, a second pipe connected to the outlet of the second cylinder, and a third pipe extending from the junction of the first and second pipes to the first heater. The isostatic pressurizing device according to claim 1, wherein the second heater is located in at least one of the first and second pipes.

3. The high-pressure piping comprises a piping section, another piping section, and a small-diameter section positioned between the piping section and the other piping section. The aforementioned small diameter portion has an inner diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the aforementioned piping portion and the inner diameter of the other piping portions. The isostatic pressurizing device according to claim 1, wherein the second heater is provided in the small diameter portion.

4. The aforementioned high-pressure piping has a bent section, The isostatic pressurizing device according to claim 1, wherein the second heater is arranged downstream of the bent portion so as to be adjacent to the bent portion.

5. The isotropic pressurizing device according to claim 1, wherein the second heater is located adjacent to the outlet of the pressure medium in the pressurizer.

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