Quenching Oil Viscosity and Vapor Blanket Breaking Agent

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing quenching oils either result in quenching distortion due to high cooling characteristics or insufficient hardness due to low cooling characteristics, making it difficult to simultaneously achieve optimal quenching hardness and distortion suppression, especially when quenching various metallic materials.

Innovation Solution

A quenching oil with a base oil of kinematic viscosity 40 mm2/s or more, blended with a vapor blanket breaking agent, and adjustable pressure during reduced pressure quenching, allowing for a wide range of cooling characteristics from cold to hot oil performance without oil changes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If cold oil with low viscosity base oil is used to achieve high cooling characteristics, then quenching hardness is improved, but vapor blanket stage becomes long causing quenching distortion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequenching hardnessVSAvoidquenching distortion
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by adjusting the kinematic viscosity of the base oil to a specific range (20-300 mm²/s at 40°C) and controlling the characteristic time within 3.0 or less. This optimization of physical parameters enables the quenching oil to achieve both high cooling characteristics and shortened vapor blanket stage, resolving the contradiction between quenching hardness and distortion suppression.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If hot oil with high viscosity base oil is used to achieve short vapor blanket stage and low quenching distortion, then quenching distortion is suppressed, but cooling characteristics become insufficient resulting in lack of quenching hardness

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequenching distortion suppressionVSAvoidquenching hardness
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent reverses the conventional approach by using low to medium viscosity base oils (20-300 mm²/s) instead of high viscosity oils, and controls the characteristic time to 3.0 or less. This parameter optimization achieves both short vapor blanket stage and high cooling characteristics, simultaneously suppressing distortion and ensuring hardness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamic control through the characteristic time parameter, which reflects the oil's response speed during quenching. By optimizing this dynamic parameter to 3.0 or less, the system adapts to different quenching requirements, providing both rapid cooling and controlled vapor blanket breakdown.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Manufacturing precision

If reduced pressure quenching is used to make vapor blanket stage longer and more stable, then quenching distortion is suppressed, but cooling characteristics become insufficient causing lack of wide usability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequenching distortion suppressionVSAvoidwide usability for various metallic materials
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the base oil viscosity parameter (20-300 mm²/s) and characteristic time (≤3.0) to create a quenching oil that performs well across a wide range of pressures. This parameter optimization ensures that the oil maintains both distortion suppression and adequate cooling characteristics whether used under reduced pressure or normal pressure, achieving wide usability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables optimal quenching of various metallic materials by adjusting cooling characteristics over a wide range while maintaining proper vapor blanket stage length, allowing for single oil use across different material qualities and shapes.

Implementation Method 1

a quenching treatment performed in order to cool metallic materials such as steel quickly to harden them

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 2

the quenching oil alone can quench a various kinds of metallic materials

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 3

a vapor blanket breaking agent is blended to shorten the vapor blanket stage

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Data Source

PatentUS7851422B2Quenching oil for reduced pressure quenching and method for quenching
Publication Date: 2010.12.14 IDEMITSU KOSAN CO LTD

AI summary

A quenching oil for reduced pressure quenching which comprises a base oil having a kinematic viscosity at 40° C. of 40 mm2/s or more and a vapor blanket breaking agent; and a method for quenching wherein the quenching oil is used and quenching is carried out while adjusting the pressure on the surface of the oil. The method allows the achievement of cooling characteristics over a wide range from those conventionally achieved by a cold oil to those by a hot oil, by the use of a single quenching oil.