Method and apparatus for heat treating material

Abstract

A method and apparatus for quenching a material. The apparatus includes a support for receiving the material; and an outlet adjacent the support for impinging a fluid against a first section of the material. The apparatus increases a cooling rate of the first section relative to a cooling rate of a second section of the material, preferably minimizing a differential between the cooling rate of the first section and the cooling rate of the second section.

1 . A method of quenching a material, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a material having a first section and a second section; and    propelling a fluid against said first section to increase a cooling rate of said first section relative to a cooling rate of said second section.    
     
     
         2 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said fluid comprises a gas.  
     
     
         3 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said propelling step generally minimizes a gradient between a temperature of said first section and a temperature of said second section.  
     
     
         4 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the propelling step comprises impinging said fluid against said first section to provide impingement cooling at said first section.  
     
     
         5 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the propelling step remains constant during quenching.  
     
     
         6 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the propelling step varies during quenching.  
     
     
         7 . The method as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the propelling step varies by adjusting a pressure of said fluid.  
     
     
         8 . A method of adjusting the cooling rate of a forging during quenching, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a forging having a first section with a first cooling rate and a second section having a second cooling rate; and    propelling a fluid against said first section in order to minimize a differential between said first cooling rate and said second cooling rate.    
     
     
         9 . The method as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said fluid is a gas.  
     
     
         10 . The method as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said propelling step generally minimizes a gradient between a temperature of said first section and a temperature of said second section.  
     
     
         11 . The method as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the propelling step comprises impinging said fluid against said first section to provide impingement cooling at said first section.  
     
     
         12 . The method as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the propelling step remains constant during quenching.  
     
     
         13 . The method as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the propelling step varies during quenching.  
     
     
         14 . The method as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the propelling step varies by adjusting a pressure of said fluid.  
     
     
         15 . An apparatus for quenching a material, the material having a first section and a second section, said apparatus comprising: 
 a support for receiving the material; and    an outlet adjacent said support for impinging a fluid against the first section of the material, so that a cooling rate of the first section increases relative to a cooling rate of the second section.    
     
     
         16 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 15 , wherein said outlet has a diameter (d) and is positioned a distance (Z) from the material placed in said support, and Z/d is between approximately 1.0 and 6.0.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 15 , wherein said outlet comprises a plurality of outlets each having a diameter (d), adjacent outlets having a spacing (s) therebetween, and s/d is less than approximately 26.0.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 17 , wherein said spacing is a circumferential spacing (X) and X/d is less than approximately 26.0.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 17 , wherein said spacing is a radial spacing (Y) and Y/d is less than approximately 24.0.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 15 , wherein said outlet comprises a plurality of outlets in an annular pipe.