DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PERFORMING A LOCALIZED INDUCTION HARDENING TREATMENT ON MECHANICAL COMPONENTS, SPECIFICALLY THRUST BLOCKS FOR LARGE-SIZED ROLLING BEARINGS

摘要

A device and method for induction hardening rolling tracks of thrust blocks of bearings, according to a required hardening profile. At least two inductors arranged in tandem are used within a track to be hardened, at a predetermined distance from a surface of the track and the thrust block is rotated with respect to the inductors, so as to make them cover the entire track, with a complete 360° turn; the inductors, at least one first pre-heating inductor and one at least heating inductor, are shaped so as to generate a first and a second magnetic fields, respectively, both having flux lines which are perpendicular to each other, and one of the two inductors is mounted on an orientable head so as to be able to arrange the two inductors oriented according to the curvature of the track. The mentioned predetermined distance of the inductors from the track is obtained by using a feeler to accurately detect the geometry of the track and which is introduced between the two inductors and then moved away during the heating steps which are performed sequentially in synchronism with the rotation of the thrust block, and by varying, in a final step, the electric power fed to at least one inductor.