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:
Aug. 08, 2000
Filed:
Jul. 27, 1998
Joseph A Powell, Akron, OH (US);
Other;
Abstract
A variable rate quench system allows the cooling of a heated workpiece to be controlled more closely. A liquid quenchant used in the system has an initial temperature, density and heat extraction index. The system comprises a first tank containing the liquid quenchant and to receive the workpiece and a second tank communicated to the first tank. The first tank has a means for agitating the liquid quenchant around the workpiece and a supply of make-up liquid quenchant communicated thereto. The second tank has a slurry of a non-liquid solid phase quenchant modifier and a means for selectively controlling addition of the slurry to the first tank. A real time data acquisition system acquires and analyzes temperature, density and agitation rate of the liquid quenchant, calculates an instantaneous heat extraction index of the liquid quenchant and compares the difference between the calculated index and a predetermined ideal index. Corrective action to minimize the difference is then taken. The first tank is also provided with a means for cycling a portion of the quenchant in the first tank through a heat exchanger external to the first tank to maintain the tank in an isothermal condition.