Contour Hardening, Inc.

Contour Hardening Investors, LP

Michael R Chaplin

John M Storm

An induction-hardening machine for the contour hardening of cross-axis, intersecting-axis and nonintersecting-axis gears such as hypoid gears includes a programmable logic control unit, a source of quench liquid and a high-frequency induction generator which are operably connected to a high-frequency induction coil which, in one embodiment, is disposed at an inclined angle above the horizontally disposed workpiece (hypoid gear). Fluid connections are made between the source of quench liquid and the induction coil for the rapid delivery of quench liquid. The support platform for the hypoid gear is connected to a rotary drive motor and with the hypoid gear rotating at approximately 900 to 1800 RPM the induction coil is energized with four low energy pulses of relatively short duration. The final heating step is a high energy pulse followed immediately by the quenching step. In one embodiment the induction coil is also offset from the geometric center of the gear and it is this offset and the inclined angle of the induction coil which address the heel to toe tooth differences and the spiral configuration of a hypoid gear.

Apparatus for and method of induction-hardening machine components

An induction-hardening machine for the contour hardening of cross-axis, intersecting-axis and nonintersecting-axis gears such as hypoid gears includes a programmable logic control unit, a source of quench liquid and a high-frequency induction generator which are operably connected to a high-frequency induction coil which is disposed at an inclined angle above the horizontally disposed workpiece (hypoid gear). Fluid connections are made between the source of quench liquid and the induction coil for the rapid delivery of quench liquid. The support platform for the hypoid gear is connected to a rotary drive motor and with the hypoid gear rotating at approximately 900 to 1800 RPM the induction coil is energized with four low energy pulses of relatively short duration. The final heating step is a high energy pulse followed immediately by the quenching step. The induction coil is also offset from the geometric center of the gear and it is this offset and the inclined angle of the induction coil which address the heel to toe tooth differences and the spiral configuration of a hypoid gear.

Apparatus for induction-hardening machine components

Method of induction-hardening machine components

An induction-hardening machine for the contour hardening of cross-axis, intersecting-axis and nonintersecting-axis gears such as hypoid gears includes a programmable logic control unit, a source of quench liquid and a high-frequency induction generator which are operably connected to a high-frequency induction coil which is disposed at an inclined angle above the horizontally disposed workpiece (hypoid gear). Fluid connections are made between the source of quench liquid and the induction coil for the rapid delivery of quench liquid. The support platform for the hypoid gear is connected to a rotary drive motor and with the hypoid gear rotating at approximately 900 to 1800 RPM the induction coil is energized with four low energy pulses of relativley short duration. The final heating step is a high energy pulse followed immediately by the quenching step. The induction coil is also offset from the geometric center of the gear and it is this offset and the inclined angle of the induction coil which address the heel to toe tooth differences and the spiral configuration of a hypoid gear.

An induction-hardening machine for the contour hardening of machine components such as gears includes a machine with both high-frequency and low-frequency induction generators operably arranged with corresponding induction coils positioned at a machine workstation and interfacing with computer controls. The high-frequency and low-frequency coils are arranged in a substantially concentric fashion such that the part to be induction hardened may be moved axially from one induction coil to the other depending upon the selected induction hardening process. The computer controls include a microprocessor operable to receive a computer disk which is formatted with specific machine settings and parameters for the automatic running and induction hardening of the particular part. The induction coils and the machine settings on the computer disk are all generated from a computer algorithm consisting of a series of equations and formulae which treat specific part characteristics and parameters so as to define the optimum coils and settings for induction hardening of that particular part.

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Speedway, IN, United States of America

Michael R Chaplin