METHOD FOR THE SURFACE MODIFICATION OF AT LEAST ONE COMPONENT AND REACTOR DEVICE FOR CARRYING OUT THE METHOD

Abstract

A process for surface modification of a component includes providing a first reactor for a main procedure and a second reactor for an ancillary procedure. The first reactor is charged with a main medium, a component is provided to the first reactor, and the main procedure is performed by bathing the component in the main medium to bring about a chemical change onto a surface of the component. The second reactor is charged with an ancillary medium, the component is provided to the second reactor, and the ancillary procedure is performed by bathing the component in the ancillary medium to treat the surface of the component. The chemical change is a surface modification that takes the form of bluing or phosphatizing, the surface modification forms a conversion coating, and the component has a diameter or dimensions in the range from 0.5 m to 12 m.

Claims

1.-11. (canceled)

12. A process for surface modification of a component comprising: providing a first reactor for a main procedure and a second reactor for an ancillary procedure; charging the first reactor with a main medium; providing a component to the first reactor; performing the main procedure by bathing the component in the main medium to bring about a chemical change onto a surface of the component; charging the second reactor with an ancillary medium; providing the component to the second reactor; performing the ancillary procedure by bathing the component in the ancillary medium to treat the surface of the component, wherein: the chemical change is a surface modification that takes the form of bluing or phosphatizing; the surface modification forms a conversion coating; and the component comprises a diameter or dimensions in the range from 0.5 m to 12 m.

13. The process of claim 12, wherein: the first reactor is closed after the step of providing a component to the first reactor; or the second reactor is closed after the step of providing the component to the second reactor.

14. The process of claim 12 wherein: charging the second reactor with an ancillary medium includes charging the ancillary medium from an external container to the second reactor; and the process comprises the step of returning the ancillary medium to the external container after performing the ancillary procedure.

15. The process of claim 12 wherein the main medium is heated during the main procedure or the ancillary medium is heated during the ancillary procedure.

16. The process of claim 12 wherein the component is a bearing ring.

17. The process of claim 12 further comprising: providing a first holding device in the first reactor for holding the component; providing a second holding device in the second reactor for holding the component; and providing a transport device for: providing the component to the first reactor or the second reactor; and removing the component from the first reactor or the second reactor.

18. The process of claim 12 wherein: the first reactor comprises a plurality of first reactors; the second reactor comprises a plurality of second reactors; m represents a total number of first reactors and second reactors; the process comprises the step of providing n external containers for charging the plurality of first reactors and the plurality of second reactors; and nm.

19. A process for surface modification of a component comprising: providing a first ancillary reactor, a second ancillary reactor, and a first main reactor; charging the first ancillary reactor with a first ancillary agent; providing a component to the first ancillary reactor; performing a first ancillary procedure by degreasing the component with the first ancillary agent; charging the second ancillary reactor with a second ancillary agent; providing the component to the second ancillary reactor; performing a second ancillary procedure by rinsing the component or nucleating the component with the second ancillary agent; charging the first main reactor with a first main medium; providing the component to the first main reactor; performing a first main procedure by bathing the component in the first main medium to bring about a chemical change onto a surface of the component; the chemical change is a surface modification that takes the form of bluing or phosphatizing; the surface modification forms a conversion coating; and the component comprises a diameter or dimensions in the range from 0.5 m to 12 m.

20. The process of claim 19 further comprising: providing a second main reactor; charging the second main reactor with a second main medium; providing the component to the second main reactor; and performing a second main procedure by bathing the component in the second main medium to bring about a further chemical change onto the surface of the component.

21. The process of claim 19, wherein: the first ancillary reactor is closed after the step of providing a component to the first ancillary reactor; the second ancillary reactor is closed after the step of providing the component to the second ancillary reactor; and the first main reactor is closed after the step of providing the component to the first main reactor.

22. The process of claim 19 wherein: the first main medium is heated during the first main procedure; the first ancillary agent is heated during the first ancillary procedure; or the second ancillary agent is heated during the second ancillary procedure.

23. The process of claim 19 wherein the component is a bearing ring.

24. The process of claim 19 further comprising: providing a first holding device in the first ancillary reactor for holding the component; providing a second holding device in the second ancillary reactor for holding the component; providing a third holding device in the first main reactor for holding the component; and providing a transport device for: providing the component to the first ancillary reactor or the second ancillary reactor or the first main reactor; and removing the component from the first ancillary reactor or the second ancillary reactor or the first main reactor.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0062] Other features, advantages and effects of the disclosed process and of the disclosed reactor apparatus are apparent from the description below of exemplary embodiments, and also from the attached figures, where:

[0063] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic sectional side view of a first reactor apparatus,

[0064] FIG. 2 is a second diagrammatic sectional side view of the first reactor apparatus,

[0065] FIG. 3 is a third diagrammatic sectional side view of the first reactor apparatus,

[0066] FIG. 4 is a fourth diagrammatic sectional side view of the first reactor apparatus,

[0067] FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic sectional side view of a second reactor apparatus, and

[0068] FIG. 6 is a possible process sequence.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0069] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic sectional side view of a first reactor apparatus 1. The first reactor apparatus 1 comprises a first reactor 2 and a further first reactor 2, where in each of the first reactors 2, 2 a main procedure is carried out. A first main medium 4a has been charged to the first reactor 2 and said reactor is heated by means of a heating element 5. A second main medium 9a has been charged to the further first reactor 2 and said reactor is likewise heated by a heating element 5.

[0070] The first reactor apparatus 1 moreover comprises a second reactor 2a in which ancillary procedures are carried out. The second reactor 2a is arranged on a lifting platform 21 which is configured to lift and lower the reactor 2a. A first ancillary medium 4b has been charged to the second reactor 2a and said reactor is heated by means of a heating element 5.

[0071] In a position above the reactors 2, 2, 2a there is a container arrangement 10 provided which comprises four external containers 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d. The external container 10a has a preheating element 11 and contains the first ancillary medium 4b. The external container 10b has no preheating element and contains the second ancillary medium 4c. The external container 10c has a preheating element 11 and contains the first main medium 4a. The external container 10d likewise has a preheating element 11 and contains the second main medium 9a.

[0072] The upper side of each reactor is closed by means of a cover 20, each cover 20 having a pressure-relief valve 8. Each reactor moreover has a stirrer apparatus 6, in order to circulate the medium present therein.

[0073] By way of a supply line 16 and, respectively, a discharge line 19, the second reactor 2a has connection not only to the first external container 10a for the supply and discharge of first ancillary medium 4b but also to the second external container 10b for the supply and discharge of second ancillary medium 4c. There is moreover a filter 7 present, which filters contaminants from the ancillary media 4b, 4c. FIG. 1 shows that the first ancillary medium 4b has been charged to the second reactor 2a; once the valve provided has been opened, gravity causes said medium to flow into the second reactor 2a.

[0074] By way of a further supply line 16, the first reactor 2 has connection to the external container 10c. Once the valve provided has been opened, the first main medium 4a can then be passed into the first reactor 2.

[0075] By way of a further supply line 16, the further first reactor 2 has connection to the external container 10d. Once the valve provided has been opened, the second main medium 9a can then be passed into the further first reactor 2.

[0076] The basic shape of each reactor 2, 2, 2a here is cylindrical.

[0077] In an embodiment not depicted, however, it is also possible that a reactor 2, 2, 2a has a cylindrical section and a conical section, where the lower side of the cylindrical section is open and the conical section begins here. The narrowest part of the conical section here is oriented downward and has properties of a funnel. In particular here, the radius of the cylindrical section is greater than the height of the cylindrical section. The radius of the conical section is the same as that of the cylindrical section. The height of the conical section is less than the height of the cylindrical section. In particular, the height of the conical section is more than half of the height of the cylindrical section.

[0078] Each reactor 2, 2, 2a has a holder device 15, 15 for a component 3. The holder devices 15, 15 for the component 3 are, however, merely depicted diagrammatically and can also be realized in another manner.

[0079] In all of the figures, the arrangement of a heating element 5 or of a preheating element 11 is merely depicted diagrammatically: there can be a plurality of heating elements 5 or preheating elements 11 provided per reactor and, respectively, external container 10a-10d. By way of example there can be two annular heating elements provided per reactor, and the arrangement here can have one element inside of, and one element outside of, the annular component 3 arranged horizontally in the reactor.

[0080] In FIG. 1, the component 3depicted in sectional viewis arranged within the first ancillary medium 4b in the second reactor 2a. The first ancillary medium 4b here serves for degreasing of the component 3. The component 3 is configured here as an annular workpiece, in particular as a constituent of an antifriction bearing, for example a bearing ring.

[0081] The first ancillary medium 4b has been charged to the second reactor 2a in a manner such that the first ancillary medium 4b completely covers the component 3. After degreasing of the component 3 in the second reactor 2a, the degreased component 3 is transported by means of a transport device 22, merely indicated diagrammatically, out of the second reactor 2a and into the heated first reactor 2. Before the degreased component 3 is introduced into the first reactor 2, said component may be heated approximately to the temperature of the first main medium 4a.

[0082] In FIG. 2, bluing of the degreased, preheated component 3 then takes place in the first reactor 2, which corresponds here to a first bluing reactor. The first bluing reactor uses, as a first main medium 4a, an aqueous solution having a nitrite concentration of at least 80 g/l. In an example embodiment, the component 3 remains for at most five minutes immersed into the first main medium 4a, the temperature of which is in the range from 132 C. to 137 C. The nitrite in the first main medium 4a may take the form of sodium nitrite. Nitrate concentration in the first main medium 4a here is at most one quarter of the nitrite concentration.

[0083] The first main medium 4a has been charged to the first reactor 2 in a manner such that the first main medium 4a completely covers the component 3. After bluing of the component 3 in the first reactor 2, the component 3 is transported by means of the transport device 22, merely indicated diagrammatically, out of the first reactor 2 and into the heated further first reactor 2.

[0084] In FIG. 3, further bluing of the component 3 then takes place in the further first reactor 2, which here corresponds to a second bluing reactor. The second bluing reactor uses, as a second main medium 9a, a further aqueous solution which has a higher nitrite concentration than the first main medium 4a. The nitrite concentration here in the second main medium 9a is preferably in the range from 140 g/l to 170 g/l. In an example embodiment, the component 3 remains for at least 12 minutes immersed into the second main medium 9a, the temperature of which is higher by from 3 Kelvin to 5 Kelvin than that of the first ancillary medium 4a. The nitrite in the second main medium 9a may likewise takes the form of sodium nitrite.

[0085] The second main medium 9a has been charged to the further first reactor 2 in a manner such that the second main medium 9a completely covers the component 3. After completion of bluing of the component 3 in the further first reactor 2, the component 3 is transported by means of the transport device 22, merely indicated diagrammatically, out of the further first reactor 2 back into the heated second reactor 2a.

[0086] In FIG. 4, the blued component 3 is then rinsed in the second reactor 2a. During the conduct of the main procedure, the second reactor 2a has been lifted by means of the lifting platform 21 to a level above the external container 10a. By way of the discharge line 19, the filter 17 and the valve, the first ancillary medium 4b has been passed back, with the assistance of gravity, into the external container 10a. During this procedure, the second reactor 2a has been completely emptied. The valve has then been closed, and, by means of the lifting platform 21, the second reactor 2a has been lowered back to the level depicted in FIG. 1. There can also be a conveying device 17 provided (cf. FIG. 5), as an alternative to a lifting platform 21, an example being a pump, for pumping the first ancillary medium 4b back into the external container 10a.

[0087] The second ancillary medium 4c has then been charged, with the assistance of gravity, from the external container 10b to the second reactor 2a; the second ancillary medium 4c here takes the form of a rinsing solution.

[0088] The blued component 3 is introduced into the second ancillary medium 4c by means of the transport device 22, and rinsed. After rinsing, the component 3 is removed in finished form from the second reactor 2a by means of the transport device 22.

[0089] In order to recommence the process for a further component, the second ancillary medium 4c is transferred back into the external container 10b. This can take place in the manner already described above for the first ancillary medium 4b. The first ancillary medium 4b is again charged to the second reactor 2a, and the process is repeated as described for the further component.

[0090] Alternatively, it is possible to carry out the process simultaneously on three components in the following manner: after transfer of a first component from the second reactor 2a into the first reactor 2, a second component is in turn immediately charged to the second reactor 2a. After transfer of the first component from the first reactor 2 into the further first reactor 2, the second component is then passed into the first reactor 2 and a third component is charged to the second reactor 2a. After removal of the first component from the further reactor 2, it is followed by the second component. The third component then follows into the first reactor 2. The change of the ancillary medium in the second reactor 2a is delayed until this juncture, and all three components are rinsed in succession.

[0091] FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic sectional side view of a second reactor apparatus 1. Reference signs which are the same as those in FIGS. 1 to 4 indicate the same elements. In a difference from the first reactor apparatus 1 in FIGS. 1 to 4, there is a further second reactor 2b provided here. This permits spatial separation between the ancillary procedure of rinsing and the ancillary procedure of degreasing. Conduct of the process here is analogous to that described above in relation to FIGS. 1 to 3. Process time is also reduced by virtue of the additional second reactor 2b. In a difference from the process described in FIG. 4, however, after the component 3 has been removed from the further first reactor 2 it is introduced here into the further second reactor 2b and rinsed by means of a second ancillary medium 4c in the form of a rinsing solution.

[0092] After rinsing, the blued component 3 in finished form is removed by means of a transport device 22 from the further second reactor 2b. The rinsing solution here is water, which can be pumped into the external container 10b by way of a conveying device 17 and can be cleaned by way of a cleaning circuit not depicted, connected to the external container 10b. The stirrer apparatuses 8 have been provided here laterally on the respective reactor in order to achieve directional flow of the medium in the reactor. The resultant flow here, viewed from above a reactor, would be circular. Moreover, fluidization of sludge that settles at the bottom of the reactor can be prevented by arranging the stirrer apparatuses 8 in the upper region of the respective reactor.

[0093] FIG. 6 depicts a possible bluing process sequence in a flow diagram. The individual steps of the process sequence are carried out in the sequence set out below:

[0094] The process sequence comprises an ancillary procedure 100. The ancillary procedure 100 is configured as a cleaning procedure. The ancillary medium of the ancillary procedure 100 is configured as a cleaning agent, and cleans the component 3 by removing contaminants. Alternatively and/or additionally, the ancillary medium of the ancillary procedure 100, for example a first ancillary medium 4b as in FIGS. 1 to 4, comprises a degreasing agent and cleans the component 3 by removing grease residues. Specifically, the ancillary medium is configured to remove unevenness and/or scratching on the surface of the component 3, for example by etching the surface of the component 3.

[0095] The process sequence in FIG. 6 comprises a further ancillary procedure 200a. The further ancillary procedure 200a is configured as a first rinsing procedure. The ancillary medium of the ancillary procedure 200a is configured as a first rinsing agent. The first rinsing agent of the ancillary procedure 200a rinses the component 3 and removes residues of the ancillary medium of the preceding ancillary procedure 100.

[0096] The process sequence in FIG. 6 also comprises a further ancillary procedure 300. The ancillary procedure 300 is configured as an activation procedure. The ancillary medium of the ancillary procedure 300 is configured as an activation medium. The activation medium of the ancillary procedure 300 activates the component 3. Specifically, the activation medium acts as a bluing catalyst. Alternatively and/or additionally, the ancillary medium of the ancillary procedure 300 can be configured as a conditioning medium; this assists the chemical reaction desired in the main procedure.

[0097] The process sequence in FIG. 6 comprises a further ancillary procedure 200b. The ancillary procedure 200b is configured as a second rinsing procedure. The ancillary medium of the ancillary procedure 200b is configured as a second rinsing agent. The second rinsing agent of the ancillary procedure 200b rinses the component 3 and removes residues of the ancillary medium of the preceding ancillary procedure 300.

[0098] The process sequence in FIG. 6 then comprises the main procedure 400. The main procedure 400 is configured as a bluing procedure. The main medium of the main procedure 400 comprises, as described above, the first main medium 4a and the second main medium 9a, which are configured as bluing agents.

[0099] The process sequence in FIG. 6 then comprises a further ancillary procedure 200c. The ancillary procedure 200c is configured as a third rinsing procedure. The ancillary medium of the ancillary procedure 200c is configured as a third rinsing agent. The third rinsing agent of the ancillary procedure 200c rinses the component 3 and removes residues of the first main medium 4a and of the second main medium 9a of the preceding main procedure 400.

[0100] The process sequence in FIG. 6 comprises a further ancillary procedure 500. The ancillary procedure 500 is configured as a dewatering procedure. The ancillary medium of the ancillary procedure 500 is configured as a dewatering medium. The dewatering medium of the ancillary procedure 500 removes water residues from preceding procedures, in particular of the ancillary procedure 200c, the third rinsing procedure, from the surface of the component 3.

[0101] The process sequence in FIG. 6 comprises a further ancillary procedure 600. The ancillary procedure 600 is configured as an oiling procedure. The ancillary medium of the ancillary procedure 600 is an oil. The oil of the ancillary procedure 600 oils the surface of the component 3 and thus provides protection of the blued component 3 from corrosion.

[0102] Alternatively, the ancillary procedure 500 and the ancillary procedure 600 can be combined in a single ancillary procedure. The configuration of the oil here is such that it has a dewatering effect and thus removes water residues from the surface of the component 3 and oils the surface of the component 3.

[0103] Finally, there is a drying procedure 700 provided for the component 3.

[0104] However, other process sequences are also possible here, where one or more of the ancillary procedures can be omitted. It is moreover possible to treat a plurality of components simultaneously in a single reactor.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0105] 1 Reactor apparatus [0106] 1 Reactor apparatus [0107] 2 First reactor [0108] 2 First reactor [0109] 2a Second reactor [0110] 2b Second reactor [0111] 3 Component [0112] 4a Main medium [0113] 9a Main medium [0114] 4b First ancillary medium [0115] 4c Second ancillary medium [0116] 5 Heating element [0117] 6 Stirrer apparatus [0118] 7 Filter [0119] 8 Pressure-relief valve [0120] 10 Container arrangement [0121] 10a External container [0122] 10b External container [0123] 10c External container [0124] 10d External container [0125] 11 Preheating element [0126] 15 Holder device [0127] 15 Holder device [0128] 16 Supply line [0129] 17 Conveying device [0130] 19 Discharge line [0131] 20 Cover [0132] 21 Lifting platform [0133] 22 Transport device [0134] 100 Ancillary procedure [0135] 200a Ancillary procedure [0136] 200b Ancillary procedure [0137] 300 Ancillary procedure [0138] 400 Main procedure [0139] 500 Ancillary procedure [0140] 600 Ancillary procedure [0141] 700 Drying procedure