The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 01, 1992
Filed:
Mar. 11, 1991
John W Smith, Brighton, MI (US);
Thermo Process Systems Inc., Livonia, MI (US);
Abstract
An integrated continuous/batch furnace system for heat treating metal parts combines a continuous furnace system and a batch furnace system. The continuous furnace system includes a preheat furnace, a rotary carburizing furnace, an equalize/diffusion furnace, an oil quench, a press quench chamber and a slow cooling chamber. The batch furnace system includes a temper furnace, a carburize/quench/slow cool furnace, and a washer. A parts tray system for holding parts to be heat treated includes a parts tray for transporting parts through the continuous furnace system, and a parts tray assembly for transporting parts through the batch furnace system. The parts tray assembly includes two parts trays detachably coupled together with rigid U-shaped alloy chips. A method for heat treating trays of parts in an integrated continuous/batch furnace system includes determining whether to heat treat the parts with the continuous furnace system or the batch furnace system. Trays of parts to be treated by the continuous furnace system are individually loaded into the continuous furnace system. Trays of parts to be treated with the batch furnace system are connected together with clips and delivered into the batch furnace system. A method for heat treating trays of parts in an integrated continuous/batch furnace system including treating the parts in a continuous furnace system, and washing and tempering the parts in a batch furnace system. Two parts trays are clipped together prior to washing and tempering the parts.