Bending and hardening leaf springs without distortion - using bending dies as quenching jigs and rapidly replaced via trolley located above quenching tank

摘要

A quenching tank is fitted with an inlet portal carrying a pair (9) of discs. A heated bar is placed in the dies, which are then closed to bend the bar blank. The dies (9) are then lowered so the bar is quenched while still in the dies, which roll along a pair of sloping guide rails to the exit end of the tank. The dies are next lifted via an exit portal and opened for removal of the bar before travelling along another pair of guide rails to the inlet end of the tank. Part of rails can be moved to one side and replaced by rails on a die changing unit carrying several pairs of dies. The dies can be replaced with no loss of prodn. time.