Method, apparatus, and computer-readable medium for carburization

Abstract

Presented is a method, apparatus, and computer-readable medium for carburization. A method includes creating a vacuum within an interior of a chamber, the interior of the chamber including an item, the item having a first portion and a second portion, and providing an inert gas and a carbon product to the interior of the chamber. The method further including heating by induction the first portion of the item to induce carburization of the first portion of the item, and in response to the heating, cooling a second portion of the item such that the second portion of the item maintains its structural integrity.

1 . A method of carburization, the method comprising:
 (a) creating a vacuum within an interior of a chamber, the interior of the chamber including an item;   (b) providing an inert gas and a carbon product to the interior of the chamber;   (c) heating by induction a first portion of the item to induce carburization of the first portion of the item; and   (d) in response to the heating, cooling a second portion of the item such that the second portion of the item maintains its structural integrity.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the vacuum is between 1-5 Torr. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the item is made of steel. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the carbon product is acetylene, and wherein the inert gas is argon. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the heating by induction heats the first portion between 1000° F. to 2000° F. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the cooling comprises the second portion of the item contacting a cooling element, the cooling element comprising a tube structure with a contact portion for contacting the second portion of the item, the tube structure allowing a flow of a cooling fluid through the cooling element. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the cooling fluid is water. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the heating induces carburization of the first portion of the item at least 0.2 mm from a surface of the first portion of the item. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the carbon product is a carbon rich product mixed with an inert gas. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus for carburization, the apparatus comprising:
 (a) a chamber, the chamber operable to create and maintain a vacuum within an interior of the chamber, the chamber sized to hold an item for carburization;   (b) a provider, the provider operably coupled to the chamber and able to provide at least an inert gas and a carbon product to the interior of the chamber;   (c) a heater, the heater operably coupled to the chamber and able to heat by induction a first portion of the item to induce carburization of the first portion of the item; and   (d) a cooler, the cooler operably coupled to the chamber and able to cool a second portion of the item in response to heating by induction the first portion.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the chamber is operably to create and maintain a vacuum within the interior between 1-5 Torr. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the item is made of steel. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the carbon product is acetylene, and wherein the inert gas in argon. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the heater is operable to heat the first portion of the item between 1000° F. to 2000° F. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the cooler comprises a tube structure with a contact portion for contacting and cooling the second portion of the item, the tube structure allowing a flow of cooling fluid through the cooler. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the cooling fluid is water. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the heater induces carburization of the first portion of the item at least 0.2 mm from a surface of the first portion of the item. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the carbon product is a carbon rich product mixed with an inert gas. 
     
     
         19 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium including computer program instructions which when executed on a processor of an apparatus causes the apparatus to at least:
 (a) creating a vacuum within an interior of a chamber, the interior of the chamber including an item;   (b) providing an inert gas and a carbon product to the interior of the chamber;   (c) heating by induction a first portion of the item to induce carburization of the first portion of the item; and   (d) in response to the heating, cooling a second portion of the item such that the second portion of the item maintains its structural integrity.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to  claim 19 , wherein the vacuum is between 1-5 Torr. 
     
     
         21 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to  claim 19 , wherein the item is made of steel. 
     
     
         22 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to  claim 19 , wherein the carbon product is acetylene, and wherein the inert gas is argon. 
     
     
         23 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to  claim 19 , wherein the heating by induction heats the first portion between 1000° F. to 2000° F. 
     
     
         24 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to  claim 19 , wherein the cooling comprises the second portion of the item contacting a cooling element, the cooling element comprising a tube structure with a contact portion for contacting the second portion of the item, the tube structure allowing a flow of a cooling fluid through the cooling element. 
     
     
         25 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to  claim 19 , wherein the cooling fluid is water. 
     
     
         26 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to  claim 19 , wherein the heating induces carburization of the first portion of the item at least 0.2 mm from a surface of the first portion of the item. 
     
     
         27 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to  claim 19 , wherein the carbon product is a carbon rich product mixed with an inert gas.