Quenching Apparatus with Reversible Gas Flow for Uniform Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing vacuum carburizing apparatuses suffer from non-uniform cooling due to a unidirectional flow of cooling gas, leading to inefficient quenching and deteriorated product quality.
Innovation Solution
A quenching apparatus with a chamber equipped with flow generating means, such as a centrifugal fan, and flow direction reversing means, including upper and lower plates and actuators, to reverse the gas flow direction between top-to-bottom and bottom-to-top, ensuring uniform cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If cooling gas flows in one direction only, then the quenching apparatus structure is simple, but the cooling uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the gas flow direction changeable rather than fixed. The flow direction reversing means enables the cooling gas to alternate between flowing from top to bottom and bottom to top, creating a dynamic system that adapts to achieve uniform cooling across different product surfaces while maintaining structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic action by repeatedly reversing the gas flow direction at intervals. The flow direction reversing means periodically switches the flow direction between upward and downward, ensuring that all surfaces of the treated product receive cooling gas alternately, thereby achieving uniform cooling without complex multi-directional flow paths.
2Device complexity
If cooling gas flows in one direction only, then the flow control mechanism is simple, but the quenching efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The flow control mechanism becomes dynamic through the flow direction reversing means, which periodically changes the gas flow direction. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to maintain high quenching efficiency by ensuring all product surfaces are exposed to cooling gas, while avoiding the need for complex multi-fan or multi-nozzle configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The periodic reversal of gas flow direction enhances quenching efficiency by alternately cooling different surfaces of the treated product. The flow direction reversing means implements this periodic action through a simple mechanism that switches flow direction at regular intervals, improving productivity without adding significant complexity to the flow control system.
3Device complexity
If cooling gas flows in one direction only, then the gas flow system is simple, but the product quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The gas flow system becomes dynamic with the flow direction reversing means, which periodically inverts the flow direction. This dynamic capability ensures uniform cooling of all product surfaces, improving product quality and reliability while maintaining relatively simple gas flow system architecture through the use of a single reversible flow path rather than multiple fixed paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The periodic reversal of gas flow direction ensures that all surfaces of the treated product receive adequate cooling exposure. The flow direction reversing means implements this periodic action by alternating the flow direction between upward and downward at regular intervals, guaranteeing uniform cooling and consistent product quality without requiring complex multi-directional flow systems.
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
The apparatus enables quick and uniform quenching by reversing the cooling gas flow, enhancing the quenching process and improving product quality.
Implementation Method 1
a centrifugal fan disposed in the chamber and sucking the gas into a central side by a centrifugal force and discharging the gas in a circumferential direction
Implementation Method 2
the gas flows from top to bottom of the object and a second flow direction in which the gas flows from the bottom to the top of the object
Data Source
AI summary
A quenching apparatus capable of quickly reversing a flow of cooling gas flowing in a chamber. The quenching apparatus includes: a chamber provided with a gas inlet and a gas outlet and having an object charged therein; a pair of flow generating means disposed on both sides of the chamber and generating a flow of gas in the chamber; and a flow direction reversing means disposed in the chamber and reversing a flow direction of gas to make the gas flow in any one of a first flow direction in which the gas flows from top to bottom of the object and a second flow direction in which the gas flows from the bottom to the top of the object.