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:
Dec. 13, 2011
Filed:
Jan. 22, 2008
Pingshun Zhao, Peoria, IL (US);
Howard W. Ludewig, Groveland, IL (US);
Tao Hong, Peoria, IL (US);
Fernando Martinez Diez, Peoria, IL (US);
Michael Lynn Johnson, Lacon, IL (US);
Kandarp Siddharthbai Patel, Dunlap, IL (US);
Zhaolin HU, Dunlap, IL (US);
Steven R. Thompson, Benson, IL (US);
Pingshun Zhao, Peoria, IL (US);
Howard W. Ludewig, Groveland, IL (US);
Tao Hong, Peoria, IL (US);
Fernando Martinez Diez, Peoria, IL (US);
Michael Lynn Johnson, Lacon, IL (US);
Kandarp Siddharthbai Patel, Dunlap, IL (US);
Zhaolin Hu, Dunlap, IL (US);
Steven R. Thompson, Benson, IL (US);
Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US);
Abstract
An apparatus for the heat-treating of a heat-hardenable steel cruciform article having a weld seam includes a heating element to heat the weld seam to a point that an austenitic transformation occurs, and a quenching chamber to cool the weld seam, causing the formation of Martensite and an associated expansion. The quenching is rapid since slow quenching may allow a crystalline phase other than martensite to form. The apparatus may comprise rollers operable to convey the welded cruciform article through the apparatus at a speed such that the weld seam is subjected to heating for a predetermined heat time sufficient to cause a formation of martensite there within, and such that the heated portion reaches the quenching chamber and is quenched to create a substantial amount of martensite, e.g., an amount sufficient to cause expansion of the part.