TOOLING FOR SUPPORTING METAL PARTS DURING HEAT TREATMENT

• US 20130252191A1
• Filed: 03/22/2013
• Published: 09/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ArianeGroup SAS
• Original Assignee: Herakles
• Inventors: GUICHARD, Frdric, MAUMUS, Jean-Pierre
• Granted Patent: US 9,903,656 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 432/253
• CPC Class Codes: C21D 1/673 for die quenching
• CPC Class Codes: C21D 9/0025 Supports; Baskets; Containers; Covers
• CPC Class Codes: C21D 9/0068 for particular articles not mentioned below
• CPC Class Codes: F27D 5/0006 Composite supporting structures

Abstract

A support tooling for supporting at least one metal part that is to be subjected to heat treatment or shaped while hot, the tooling including: a stationary support structure presenting a determined shape that corresponds to the general shape of each metal part that is to be supported; first holder elements arranged on one side of each part; second holder elements arranged on the other side of each part; and at least one spring type resilient element placed between the support structure and each first or second holder element so as to hold the part throughout the duration of heat treatment. The support structure, the first and second holder elements and the resilient element(s) are made of thermostructural composite material.

Claims

1. Support tooling for supporting at least one metal part that is to be subjected to heat treatment or shaped while hot, said tooling comprising:

a stationary support structure presenting a determined shape that corresponds to the general shape of each metal part that is to be supported;

first holder elements arranged on one side of each part;

second holder elements arranged on the other side of each part; and

at least one spring type resilient element placed between the support structure and each first or second holder element so as to hold the part throughout the duration of heat treatment;

the support structure, the first and second holder elements and the resilient element(s) being made of thermostructural composite material.

2. Tooling according to claim 1, including a plurality of pairs of jaws placed on either side of the metal part, each jaw being slidably mounted on the support structure.

3. Tooling according to claim 2, wherein each jaw is provided with at least one guide each co-operating with a respective slideway formed in the support structure.

4. Tooling according to claim 1, wherein each jaw has an inside face for coming into contact with a portion of the metal part, said face presenting a shape corresponding to the geometrical configuration of said portion of the part.

5. Tooling according to claim 1, wherein the support structure presents a housing including at least a first portion extending in a first plane, and a second portion extending in a second plane forming an angle relative to the first plane.

6. Tooling according to claim 1, wherein the support structure presents a housing extending in a first plane and wherein it includes at least a portion provided with angular wedges arranged between one or more pairs of jaws and the side walls of the support structure in such a manner that the portion of the housing that is present between the angular wedges extends in a second plane forming an angle with the first plane.

7. Tooling according to claim 1, including a plurality of spacer elements interposed between first and second metal parts, and wherein it further includes a plurality of jaws placed against the first metal part and a plurality of thrust plates placed against the second metal part, the spring type resilient elements being interposed between the jaws and the support structure.

8. Tooling according to claim 7, wherein the resilient elements are connected to the jaws by first hinged connections and to the support structure by second hinged connections, the spacer elements resting on carriages that are movable on the support structure, and the thrust plates being held against rollers secured to the support structure.

9. Tooling according to claim 1, wherein the support structure, the first and second holder elements, and each spring type resilient element are made of carbon/carbon composite material or of ceramic matrix composite material.

10. Tooling according to claim 1, wherein each spring type resilient element presents predetermined stiffness when cold.

11. A heat treatment installation comprising an oven and one or more pieces of support tooling according to claim 1 placed inside the oven.