Ipsen, Cherry Valley, Ill., developed and delivered a special atmosphere three-row pusher heat treating system that required comparatively little floor space and power consumption for a Mercedes-Benz facility. The system included a furnace for the thermal processing of gearbox parts, crown wheels and drive pinion wheels, with the entire system installed in a limited space.
Ipsen continued to provide solutions during this installation, utilizing the available space by carefully linking the high- and low-temperature furnaces, cleaning systems and quenching equipment – all of which provided flexibility for the various types of parts and minimized the space needed. In the end, Ipsen used a highly integrated transfer machine to service the entire system and required components in the compact area.
The pusher furnace utilizes three rows in all of its main operating zones and is the first continuous heat treatment furnace from Ipsen to feature the new, patented Lock up system. This system incorporates an entrance vestibule and an oil bath, both of which are separated from the Pusher furnace’s heat treatment chamber by gas-tight doors. The furnace atmosphere thus fluctuates less in terms of temperature and carbon potential, resulting in precise, steady characteristics which are easy to monitor and can be adjusted accurately.
The pusher system also employs time-tested, durable Ipsen masonry consisting of refractory bricks for hot face insulation and microporous material for backup insulation. Compared to conventional designs, this results in up to a 30% reduction of waste heat, as demonstrated by comparatively lower process costs.
