Hardening apparatus for a long member, and a hardening method for a long member

Abstract

A hardening apparatus comprises a tracing gauge that is a member having the same axis shape as the axis shape of a bent pipe and being held in an attitude identical to the bent pipe, and a tracing device that is a member which can move in the longitudinal direction of the bent pipe and the tracing gauge and can move in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. A guide part engaged with the tracing gauge in a manner slidable along the tracing gauge is held at one end of the tracing device, and a hardening device is held at the other end. A transportation device moves the hardening device in the longitudinal direction by moving the tracing device.

Claims

1. A hardening apparatus for a bent pipe, comprising: a hardening means including a heating means and a cooling means, a transportation means to relatively move a bent pipe as a workpiece and said hardening means, a tracing gauge which is a member having an axis shape identical to an axis shape of said bent pipe and being held in an attitude identical to an attitude of said bent pipe, a tracing means which is a configured so as to be able to move relatively to said bent pipe and said tracing gauge, not only in the longitudinal direction of said bent pipe and said tracing gauge, but also in the direction perpendicular to said longitudinal direction; and a guide part engaged with said tracing gauge in a manner slidable along said tracing gauge is held at one end of said tracing means, wherein: said hardening means is held at the other end of said tracing means, and said transportation means relatively moves said bent pipe and said hardening means in said longitudinal direction by relatively moving said bent pipe and said tracing means.

2. The hardening apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of support members which can support said bent pipe from below and can be evacuated below, wherein said plurality of said support members are arranged at a vacate a spacing, and are arranged apart from each other along said longitudinal direction of said bent pipe.

3. The hardening apparatus according to claim 2, wherein: each of said plurality of said support members is configured so as to be evacuated below when said hardening means is within a predetermined distance and to support said bent pipe from below when said hardening means is not within the predetermined distance.

4. The hardening apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: said hardening means comprises said cooling means on both sides of said heating means in said longitudinal direction, respectively.

5. A hardening apparatus for a long member, comprising: a hardening means including a heating means and a cooling means, and a transportation means to relatively move a long member and said hardening means in the longitudinal direction of said long member, said long member has a hat-shaped cross-section which consists of a top plate part, two sidewall parts respectively extending toward the same direction from both ends of said top plate part on the same one of two principal surfaces of said top plate part and two flange parts respectively extending toward the opposite sides of the top plate part across the sidewall parts from the ends of said two sidewall parts on an opposite side of said top plate part, wherein: said hardening means is arranged so as to oppose a target corner part that is at least one corner part among two first corner parts which are two corner parts, at which said flange parts and said sidewall parts intersect, and two second corner parts which are two corner parts, at which said sidewall parts and said top plate part intersect, at a predetermined spacing, and said hardening apparatus further comprises: a tracing gauge which is a member having a shape corresponding to a ridge line shape consisting of said target corner part of said long member and being held in an attitude identical to an attitude of the said long member, a tracing means which is a configured so as to be able to move relatively to said long member and said tracing gauge, not only in the longitudinal direction of said long member and said tracing gauge, but also in the direction perpendicular to said longitudinal direction; a guide part engaged with said tracing gauge in a manner slidable along said tracing gauge is held at one end of said tracing means, said hardening means is held at the other end of said tracing means, and said transportation means relatively moves said long member and said hardening means in said longitudinal direction by relatively moving said long member and said tracing means.

6. The hardening apparatus according to claim 5, wherein: hardening surfaces of said heating means and said cooling means, which are surfaces opposing said target corner part, have a shape along a hardening target surface of said target corner part, which is a surface opposing said heating means and said cooling means.

7. A hardening method for a long member for performing a hardening treatment on said long member using the hardening apparatus according to claim 5, including: a hardening process in which the hardening treatment is performed on said target corner part by heating said target corner part by said heating means and thereafter cooling said target corner part by said cooling means while relatively moving said long member and said hardening means in said longitudinal direction by relatively moving said long member and said tracing means through said transportation means.

8. The hardening method according to claim 7, wherein: said target corner part contains both said two first corner parts and said two second corner parts, said tempering process includes; a first step in which the hardening treatment is performed on said two first target corner parts by heating said two first target corner parts by said heating means and thereafter cooling said two first target corner parts by said cooling means while relatively moving said long member and said hardening means in said longitudinal direction by relatively moving said long member and said tracing means through said transportation means, and a second step in which the hardening treatment is performed on said two second target corner parts by heating said two second target corner parts by said heating means and thereafter cooling said two second target corner parts by said cooling means while relatively moving said long member and said hardening means in said longitudinal direction by relatively moving said long member and said tracing means through said transportation means.

9. The hardening method according to claim 8, wherein: said second step is performed after said first step is performed, in said hardening process.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hardening apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention (first apparatus) observed from its front side.

(2) FIG. 2 is (a) a left-side view of the first apparatus and (b) an enlarged view of a guide part at the start of execution of a hardening treatment.

(3) FIG. 3 is a plan view of the first apparatus at the start of execution of the hardening treatment.

(4) FIG. 4 is a front view of the first apparatus at the start of execution of the hardening treatment.

(5) FIG. 5 is a plan view of the first apparatus in the middle of execution of the hardening treatment.

(6) FIG. 6 is a front view of the first apparatus in the middle of execution of the hardening treatment.

(7) FIG. 7 is a plan view of the first apparatus at the end of execution of the hardening treatment.

(8) FIG. 8 is a front view of the first apparatus at the end of execution of the hardening treatment.

(9) FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a hardening apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention (second apparatus) observed from its front side.

(10) FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the second apparatus observed from its back side.

(11) FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of a guide part which the second apparatus comprises.

(12) FIG. 12 is (a) a schematic perspective view and (b) a schematic sectional view for showing a structure of a long member having a hat-like cross-section.

(13) FIG. 13 is a schematic perspective view for showing a configuration of a hardening means which an example of the hardening apparatus according to one embodiment of the second present-invention apparatus (third apparatus) comprises.

(14) FIG. 14 is a schematic perspective view for exemplifying another configuration of a hardening means which the third apparatus may comprise.

(15) FIG. 15 is an enlarged view of a guide part which a fourth apparatus comprises.

(16) FIG. 16 is (a) a schematic side view and (b) a front view for showing a layout of a long member and a hardening means before a startup of an example of a hardening method according to one embodiment of the second present-invention method (second method).

(17) FIG. 17 is (a) a schematic sectional view taken along a line A-A and (b) a schematic front view for showing a layout of the long member and the hardening means after execution of a first step included in the second method.

(18) FIG. 18 is (a) a schematic sectional view taken along a line B-B and (b) a schematic front view for showing a layout of the long member and the hardening means after execution of a second step included in the second method.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

First Embodiment

(19) Hereafter, an example of a hardening apparatus according to one embodiment of the above-mentioned first the-present-invention (which may be referred to as a first apparatus hereafter) will be explained in detail, referring to drawings. In the present example, a case where a curve of the bent pipe is two-dimensional will be explained.

(20) In addition, in the following explanation, a longitudinal direction of the bent pipe and the tracing gauge is defined as an X-axis direction, a direction which perpendicularly intersects with the X-axis direction in a horizontal plane is defined as a Y-axis direction, and a direction which perpendicularly intersects with these X-axis and the Y-axis is referred to as a Z-axis direction. Moreover, a direction toward the right side when the-present-invention apparatus is observed from its front side is defined as a positive direction in the X-axis direction, a direction toward the near side (direction toward an observer) when the-present-invention apparatus is observed from its front side is defined as a positive direction in the Y-axis direction, and a direction toward the upper side (a upward direction in the vertical direction) when the-present-invention apparatus is observed from its front side is defined as a positive direction in the Z-axis direction. As for constituent elements which have been already given reference signs clearly in any one of the drawings, they may not be given reference signs repeatedly in other drawings.

(21) <Configuration>

(22) FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 area perspective view and a left-side view for showing the whole picture of the first apparatus 100, respectively. The first apparatus 100 comprises the hardening means 110, the transportation means 130, and the control means 140. In the present example, the transportation means 130 is constituted by the servomotor 131, the ball screw 132, the guide rail 133, and the base 163, but the number 130 for the transportation means is not shown in the drawing. In addition, in the first apparatus 100, the transportation means 130, the control means 140, the tracing gauge 150, and the tracing means 160 are disposed on the base 101.

(23) The hardening means 110 further comprises the heating means 111 and the cooling means 112. The hardening means 110 further comprises the cooling means 113 also on the opposite side across the heating means 111. Namely, the hardening means 110 comprises the cooling means 112 and 113 respectively on both sides of the heating means 111 in the longitudinal direction of the bent pipe 120 (X-axis direction). Thereby, the first apparatus 100 can perform the hardening treatment also in any of the outward process and the homeward process when making the hardening means 110 move back and forth in the X-axis direction. However, it is not essential requirements for the the-present-invention apparatus that the hardening means 110 comprises the cooling means 112 and 113 on both sides of the heating means 111 like this.

(24) The transportation means 130 relatively moves the bent pipe 120 as a workpiece and the hardening means 110. Specifically, the transportation means 130 rotates the ball screw 132 with the servomotor 131. The ball screw 132 is engaged with a nut (not shown) attached to the base 163, and is configured such that the base 163 moves in the X-axis direction along the guide rail 133 by rotation of the ball screw 132. The guide rail 133 is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the bent pipe 120 (X-axis direction). On the other hand, the arm 161 holding the hardening means 110 is connected with the base 163 (through the control means 140, etc.). Therefore, the transportation means 130 can move relatively the bent pipe 120 as a workpiece and the hardening means 110. In the present example, the bent pipe 120 is fixed by the chucks 121 and 122, and the hardening means 110 moves as mentioned above.

(25) When the bent pipe 120 relatively and the hardening means 110 moved by the transportation means 130 attain a predetermined spatial relationship, the control means 140 heats the bent pipe 120 by the heating means 111, and cools the bent pipe 120 by the cooling means 112 or 113 thereafter. Thereby, the control means 140 performs the hardening treatment on a desired part of the bent pipe 120.

(26) In addition, in the present example, the heating means 111 comprises an induction-heating coil and heats the bent pipe 120 by the induction heating using electric power supplied by a power unit which the control means 140 comprises. On the other hand, the cooling means 112 and 113 are shower-type cooling jackets in which a plurality of holes are drilled in a surface opposing the bent pipe 120 and cooling water is blown toward the bent pipe from the plurality of the holes. All of the heating means 111 and the cooling means 112 and 113 have a shape of a doughnut concentric with the bent pipe 120 such that the bent pipe 120 can pass through them.

(27) In the first apparatus 100, the tracing gauge 150 which is a member having an axis shape identical to an axis shape of the bent pipe 120 is held in an attitude identical to that of the bent pipe 120, although they cannot be fully seen in FIG. 1 since they are partially behind the guide rail 133. In addition, in the present example, a cutout part is prepared at one end of the bent pipe 120 as a workpiece, a protrusion (convex part) is prepared in the chuck 121 or 122 to hold the end, and the attitude of the tracing gauge 150 and the attitude of the bent pipe 120 are conformed by fitting the cutout part and the protrusion.

(28) Furthermore, the first apparatus further comprises the tracing means 160 which is a member configured to be able to relatively move with respective to the bent pipe 120 and the tracing gauge 150, not only in the longitudinal direction of the bent pipe 120 and the tracing gauge 150 (X-axis direction), but also in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (Y-axis direction). As can be easily understood from the side view shown in FIG. 2, the tracing means 160 transmits the shape of the tracing gauge 150 traced by the guide part 190 to the hardening means 110 through the arm 168, the base 165, the control means 140 and the arm 161. Namely, the hardening means 110 and the guide part 190 are held at the both ends of the tracing means 160, respectively.

(29) The base 165 is engaged with the guide rail 164 disposed in the Y-axis direction on another base 165 and is laid so as to be able to move in the Y-axis direction, and the base 165 is also engaged with the guide rail 164 disposed in the Y-axis direction on another base 163 and is laid so as to be able to move in the Y-axis direction. Furthermore, as mentioned above, the base 163 is moved in the X-axis direction by the transportation means 130. By such a configuration, the tracing means 160 can relatively move with respective to the bent pipe 120 and the tracing gauge 150, not only in the longitudinal direction of the bent pipe 120 and the tracing gauge 150 (the X-axis direction), but also in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

(30) In order to attain only the objective of enabling the movement of the tracing means 160 in the Y-axis direction, one base laid so as to be able to move in the Y-axis direction is enough. In the present example, since the two bases 165 and 165 are laid so as to be able to move in the Y-axis direction as mentioned above, they can be utilized for alignment (adjustment) of the hardening means 110 and the guide part 190, etc., by fixing either one of the bases in a state where it is shifted a predetermined amount in the Y-axis direction.

(31) In addition, although the above-mentioned guide part 190 is hidden by the control means 140 in FIG. 1, it is held at one end of the tracing means 160, and the hardening means 110 is held at the other end of the tracing means 160, as mentioned above.

(32) The guide part 190 is engaged with the tracing gauge 150 in a slidable manner. In the present example, as shown in (b) of FIG. 2, the guide part 190 is constituted by the rollers 193a and 193b rotatably attached respectively to the two axes 192a and 192b disposed in parallel with the holding member 191.

(33) In addition, as mentioned in the beginning, in the present example, the curve of the bent pipe 120 is two-dimensional. Specifically, when the bent pipe 120 is set in an X-Y plane, the bent pipe 120 is curved within the X-Y plane, but it is not curved in a direction perpendicular to the X-Y plane (namely, the Z-axis direction). Therefore, the guide part 190 just has to be able to trace the shape (curve) of the tracing gauge 150 in the X-Y plane. In other words, as long as the shape (curve) in the X-Y plane of the tracing gauge 150 is the same as that of the bent pipe 120, other shapes are not be limited in particular.

(34) Accordingly, the tracing gauge 150 in the present example is a tabular member (plate member) corresponding to a cross-section of the bent pipe 120 in the X-Y plane. For this reason, as shown in (b) of FIG. 2, the rollers 193a and 193b of the guide part 190 are provided with brim (flange) such that they are not released from the tabular tracing gauge 150.

(35) Furthermore, the first apparatus 100 comprises the above-mentioned pressing means 185. The pressing means 185 is held by the arm 186 attached to the base 165, and presses the bent pipe 120 downward from above in the vicinity of the hardening means 110. The pressing means 185 is at a position slightly apart (in front) from the hardening means 110 in the longitudinal direction of the bent pipe 120. Therefore, the position of the pressing means 185 may be shifted slightly in the Y-axis direction from the hardening means 110 due to the curve of the bent pipe 120. Since the pressing means 185 is connected with the base 165 which can move in the Y-axis direction, the base 165 and the base 165 can shift from each other and thereby the pressing means 185 can follow the shape of the bent pipe 120 independently of the hardening means 110 even when such a shift of the positions occurs. However, as mentioned above, the pressing means is not an essential constituent element of the-present-invention apparatus.

(36) <Hardening Treatment>

(37) The hardening treatment performed by the first apparatus 100 which has the configuration as mentioned above will be explained below in detail below.

(38) <Preparation>

(39) First, as shown in the plan view of FIG. 3 and the front view of FIG. 4, the hardening means 110 is made to stand by at the end on the negative direction side of the X-axis. Then, the bent pipe 120 as a workpiece is made to pass through the heating means 111 and the cooling means 112 and 113, and the both ends thereof are held (retained) by the chucks 121 and 122. On this occasion, the attitude of the bent pipe 120 is determined by fitting the cutout part formed at the end of the bent pipe 120 and the convex part formed in the chuck 121.

(40) Furthermore, for the purpose of preventing the bent pipe 120 from bowing due to heating in the hardening treatment, the support members 181 to 184 are arranged on the upper part of the base 102. Furthermore, the receiving parts of the support members 181 to 184 are raised with pneumatic pressure supplied from an air compressor (not shown) to support the bent pipe 120. In FIG. 4, the receiving part of the support member 181 has been lowered. However, when there is time before the distance between the hardening means 110 and the support member 181 becomes a predetermined distance or shorter after the movement of the hardening means 110 starts, the receiving part of the support member 181 may have been raised.

(41) On the other hand, the rollers 193a and 193b of the guide part 190 are contacted with the tracing gauge 150 (as shown in (b) of FIG. 2). The tracing gauge 150 is supported on its undersurface by a plurality of stands 153.

(42) <Operation>

(43) Next, the base 163 is moved along the guide rail 133 toward the positive direction of the X-axis by operating the servomotor 131 to rotate the ball screw 132. A state in the middle of this movement is shown in the plan view of FIG. 5 and the front view of FIG. 6. Since each of the support members 181 to 184 evacuates according to the position of the hardening means 110 as shown in FIG. 6, an interference between the hardening means 110 and the support members 181 to 184 as mentioned above is avoided.

(44) While the hardening means 110 is moving as mentioned above, the tracing means 160 moves also in the Y-axis direction according to the shape of the tracing gauge 150 traced by the guide part 190, while moving toward the positive direction of the X-axis. Thereby, the hardening means 110 can move along the bent pipe 120 with sufficient precision.

(45) In the meantime, the control means 140 supplies electric power to the heating means 111 when the hardening means 110 is located in a point where the hardening treatment of the bent pipe 120 should be performed, and it does not supply electric power when it is not. Thereby, the first apparatus 100 can perform the hardening treatment only on a desired part of the bent pipe 120.

(46) In accordance with the above, in the first apparatus 100, it is avoided that the spatial relationship between the bent pipe 120 and the heating means 111 deviates or, furthermore, the bent pipe 120 and the heating means 111 interfere when the bent pipe 120 and the heating means 111 move relatively. As a result, a possibility that the hardening treatment of the bent pipe 120 may become uneven or the heating means 111 may be damaged can be reduced.

(47) When moving the hardening means 110 toward the positive direction of the X-axis as mentioned above, only the cooling means 112 which is in the rear side (negative direction side of the X-axis) of the heating means 111 in the moving direction of the hardening means 110 is operated, and the cooling means 113 on the front side (positive direction side of the X-axis) of the heating means 111 is not operated.

(48) As shown in the plan view of FIG. 7 and the front view of FIG. 8, the hardening treatment is ended when the hardening means 110 arrives at the end of the positive direction of the X-axis. Thereafter, when performing the hardening treatment on another bent pipe 120, the both ends of the bent pipe 120 are released from the chucks 121 and 122, and the hardening-treated bent pipe 120 is taken out from the first apparatus 100. Then, after the following bent pipe 120 is made to be hold by the chucks 121 and 122, the same hardening treatment as the above can be performed while operating the servomotor 131 in a direction opposite to the above to move the hardening means 110 toward the negative direction of the X-axis.

(49) Also when performing the tempering treatment, etc. on the treated bent pipe 120, the same hardening treatment as the above can be performed at predetermined heating temperature and cooling efficiency while operating the servomotor 131 in the direction opposite to the above to move the hardening means 110 at a predetermined velocity toward the negative direction of the X-axis.

(50) In any case, when the hardening means 110 is moved toward the negative direction of the X-axis, only the cooling means 113 which is on the rear side (positive direction side of the X-axis) of the heating means 111 in the moving direction of the hardening means 110 is operated, and the cooling means 112 on the front side (negative direction side of the X-axis) of the heating means 111 is not operated.

(51) In the present example, the bent pipe 120 and the tracing gauge 150 are fixed as mentioned above, and the hardening means 110 and the guide part 190 are moved in the X-axis direction. However, as mentioned above, the hardening means 110 and the guide part 190 may be fixed, and the bent pipe 120 and the tracing gauge 150 may be moved.

(52) <Effects>

(53) As mentioned above, in accordance with the first apparatus 100, it is possible to control strictly the spatial relationship between the bent pipe 120 and the heating means 111 by a simple mechanical means. Furthermore, a changeover can be easily performed by exchanging the tracing gauge 150 with that corresponding to a new workpiece. In addition, since such a simple mechanical means is used, the first apparatus 100 can attain low cost and space-saving simultaneously, as compared with a case where an industrial robot is used.

Second Embodiment

(54) Hereafter, an example of a hardening apparatus according to another embodiment of the above-mentioned first present-invention apparatus (which may be referred to as a second apparatus hereafter) will be explained in detail, referring to drawings. In the present example, a case where the curve of the bent pipe is three-dimensional will be explained.

(55) <Configuration>

(56) FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 are perspective views for showing the whole picture of the second apparatus 200 observed from its front side and back side respectively. Basically, the second apparatus 200 has the same configuration as that of the first apparatus 100 except for a point that it has a mechanism which enables tracing in the Z-axis direction since the curve of the bent pipe is three-dimensional as mentioned above. Therefore, in the following explanation, a configuration which is different from that of the first apparatus 100 will be explained in detail, and an explanation about the same configuration as that of the first apparatus 100 may be omitted.

(57) First, since the tracing gauge 150 used in the second apparatus 200 has a three-dimensional curve, both ends thereof are supported and fixed with the holders 151 and 152 unlike the tabular tracing gauge 150 which is specialized in the two-dimensional curve and used in the first apparatus 100.

(58) Since the tracing means 160 in the second apparatus 200 needed to be able to move also in the Z-axis direction, the slider 166 and the pantograph 167 are disposed on the base 165 referred to in the explanation of the first apparatus 100, and the control means 140 is laid thereon. The slider 166 and the pantograph 167 constitute a mechanism for permitting movement in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction), but not permitting movement in the horizontal direction (movement in the X-Y plane), and do not provide driving force in the Z-axis direction. Thereby, the tracing means 160 in the second apparatus 200 can move in all the directions of the X-axis, the Y-axis, and the Z-axis.

(59) Furthermore, the second apparatus 200 comprises a weight and a mechanism for hanging the weight, etc., for the purpose of reducing load applied to the tracing means 160 due to the mass of the control means 140 to make smooth the movement of the tracing means 160 in the Z-axis direction.

(60) Specifically, the second apparatus 200 comprises the frame 170, and the guide rail 171 parallel to the X-axis direction is prepared on the upper part of this frame 170. Furthermore, another guide rail 172 which is engaged with this guide rail 171 and can move in the X-axis direction is laid. This guide rail 172 is a guide rail parallel to the Y-axis direction. In addition, the four pulleys 174 are disposed respectively on four corners of the base 173 which is engaged with this guide rail 172 and can move in the Y-axis direction. The wires 175 are wound around these pulleys 174, (board at the bottom of) the control means 140 is connected with one end thereof, and the weight 176 is connected with the other end, respectively.

(61) Since the mass of the control unit 140 and the mass of the weight 176 are balanced by the mechanism as mentioned above, although the control unit 140 has large mass, the tracing means 160 and the hardening means 110 including the control unit 140 can be smoothly moved by the movement of the guide part 190 which traces the tracing gauge 150, in all the directions of the X-axis, the Y-axis, and the Z-axis. In addition, when the weight 176 sways in association with the movement of the control unit 140, a rail for regulating the movement of the weight 176 in the vertical direction, etc. may be further prepared, for example.

(62) By the way, although the first apparatus 100 is intended for the hardening treatment of the bent pipe 120 having a two-dimensional curve, the second apparatus 200 is intended for the hardening treatment of the bent pipe 120 having a three-dimensional curve. Therefore, the guide parts 190 of the second apparatus 200 needs to accurately trace the tracing gauge 150 having a three-dimensional curve as mentioned above, unlike the guide part 190 of the first apparatus 100. Therefore, as the tracing gauge 150 which the second apparatus 200 uses, that having the same shape as the bent pipe 120 which is the target of the hardening treatment is generally used.

(63) Therefore, the guide part 190 of the second apparatus 200 also needs to be configured so as to be able to accurately trace a three-dimensional change of the shape. For example, when using the tubular tracing gauge 150 having a shape identical to that of the bent pipe 120, it is desirable that the guide part 190 is configured to contact with the tracing gauge 150 from at least 3 directions, as exemplified in FIG. 11. Specifically, the guide part 190 shown in FIG. 11 is constituted by the roller 193a rotatably attached to the axis 192a prepared on the stay 194a attached to the holding member 191, the rollers 193b and 193c rotatably attached to the axis 192b and the axis 192c prepared on the stay 194b attached to the holding member 191, respectively.

(64) In addition, in the second apparatus 200, it is desirable that the upper limit position of the receiving part of the support member for supporting the bent pipe 120 can be separately controlled according to the holding attitude of the bent pipe 120.

(65) <Operation>

(66) Since an operation of the second apparatus 200 in the hardening treatment is basically the same as the operation of the first apparatus 100, an explanation thereof is omitted here.

(67) <Effects>

(68) As mentioned above, in accordance with the second apparatus 200, it is possible to control strictly the spatial relationship between the bent pipe 120 and the heating means 111 by a simple mechanical means even when the bent pipe 120 has a three-dimensional curve. Furthermore, a changeover can be easily performed by exchanging the tracing gauge 150 with that corresponding to a new workpiece. In addition, since such a simple mechanical means is used, the second apparatus 200 can attain low cost and space-saving simultaneously, as compared with a case where an industrial robot is used.

(69) <Supplement>

(70) By the way, as mentioned in the beginning, in a state where the spatial relationship between the bent pipe and the heating means deviates when the bent pipe and the heating means move relatively, there is a possibility that the hardening treatment of the bent pipe may become uneven. However, for example, in a case where the shape of the bent pipe hardening processed is slightly shifted from the desired shape, etc., the above-mentioned shift of the shapes may be able to be corrected by intentionally biasing the spatial relationship between the bent pipe and the heating means.

(71) Therefore, the hardening apparatus according to a modification of the present invention may comprise an adjuster mechanism for changing the spatial relationship between the bent pipe as a workpiece and the heating apparatus (for example, deviation between the axis of the bent pipe passing through the inside of an induction-heating coil as a heating apparatus and the axis of the induction-heating coil, etc.), etc., in addition to technical features which have been mentioned above.

Third Embodiment

(72) Hereafter, an example of the hardening apparatus according to one embodiment of the above-mentioned second present-invention apparatus (which may be referred to as a third apparatus hereafter) will be explained in detail, referring to drawing sheets.

(73) <Long Member Having Hat-Like Cross-Section>

(74) First, structure of the long member 1 having a hat-like cross-section as a workpiece which is a target of the hardening treatment by the third apparatus is shown in FIG. 12. (a) is a perspective view of the long member 1, and (b) is a sectional view of the long member 1 along a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction) (plane parallel to a Y-Z plane).

(75) The long member 1 comprises one top plate part 2, two sidewall parts 3, and two flange parts 4. The two sidewall parts 3 are respectively extending toward the same direction (in the present example, negative direction side of the Z-axis) from both ends of the top plate part 2 on the same one of two principal surfaces of the top plate part 2. The two flange parts 4 are respectively extending toward the opposite sides of the top plate part 2 across the sidewall parts 3 (the positive direction side and the negative direction side of the Y-axis) from the ends of the two sidewall parts 3 on an opposite side of the top plate part 2 (negative direction side of the Z-axis). As shown by the hatched area in FIG. 12, the cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the long member 1 has a hat-like shape.

(76) The long member 1 has two first corner parts 5 (a thick solid line and black round mark) which are two corner parts, at which the sidewall parts 3 and the top plate parts 2 intersect, and the two second corner parts 6 (a thick broken line and outlined white round mark) which are two corner parts, at which the flange parts 4 and the sidewall parts 3 intersect. The long member 1 which has such a structure can be formed by press processing on super-high-tensile strength steel sheet, for example.

(77) In FIG. 12, an example in which all the angles between the top plate part 2 and the sidewall parts 3 and the angles between the sidewall parts 3 and the flange parts 4 are right angle is shown. However, all or a part of these angles do not have to be necessarily right angle. For example, the top plate part 2 and the wall part 3 may intersect at an angle such that the two wall parts 3 become more distant from or conversely closer to each other as they becomes further from the top plate part 2. Moreover, the wall part 3 and the flange parts 4 may intersect at an angle such that the flange parts 4 become more distant from or conversely closer to the top plate part 2 as they becomes further from the wall parts 3.

(78) Furthermore, for the purpose of making it easy to understand the structure of the long member 1 having a hat-like cross-section, the long member 1 with its axis in the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction) which is not curved is shown in FIG. 12. However, the axis of the long member 1 in the longitudinal direction may be curved in two dimensions or in three dimensions according to an intended use of the long member 1, etc. In the present example, a case where the axis of the long member 1 in the longitudinal direction is two-dimensionally curved in an X-Y plane will be explained.

(79) <Configuration of Third Apparatus>

(80) Basically, the third apparatus has the same configuration as that of the first apparatus 100 except for a point that the long member as a workpiece which is a target of the hardening treatment is a long member having a hat-like cross-section, other than a bent pipe. Therefore, in the following explanation, a configuration which is different from that of the first apparatus 100 will be explained in detail, and an explanation about the same configuration as that of the first apparatus 100 may be omitted.

(81) Specifically, in the long member 1 having a hat-like cross-section and an axis of the longitudinal direction curved only in two dimensions (namely, in an X-Y plane), the third apparatus partially performs the hardening treatment only on the corner part region of the hat-like cross-section, while reducing the distortion (warp) of the axis of the long member in the longitudinal direction after the hardening treatment. In addition, the third apparatus performs the hardening treatment on all the regions (corner part regions) in the vicinity of a total of the four corner parts consisting of the two first corner parts 5 and the two second corner parts 6. Namely, in the third apparatus, all a total of the four corner parts of the two first corner parts 5 and the two second corner parts 6 are the corner parts as the target of the hardening treatment (target corner parts).

(82) (Configuration of Hardening Means)

(83) Then, as shown in FIG. 13, the hardening means 110, which the third apparatus comprises, comprises two hardening means 110a respectively arranged so as to oppose the two first corner parts 5 of the long member 1 at a predetermined spacing and two hardening means 110b respectively arranged so as to oppose the two second corner parts 6 of the long member 1 at a predetermined spacing. The two hardening means 110a are fixed to a connection member 161a at a predetermined interval so as to respectively oppose the two first corner parts 5 at a predetermined spacing. Similarly, the two hardening means 110b are fixed to a connection member 161b at a predetermined interval so as to respectively oppose the two second corner parts 6 at a predetermined spacing.

(84) Furthermore, the two connection members 161a and 161b are connected with each other by a further connection member 161c such that the two hardening means 110a and the two hardening means 110b respectively oppose the two first corner parts 5 and the two second corner parts 6 at a predetermined spacing. In addition, the connection member 161c has a shape curved in the Y-Z plane so as not to interfere with the long member 1 during the execution of the hardening treatment.

(85) In addition, the connection member 161c is fixed to the arm 161 connected with the base 163 through the control-means 140, etc. Therefore, as mentioned above about the first apparatus, the transportation means 130 can relatively move the long member 1 and the hardening means 110 as a workpiece. Namely, in the third apparatus, the hardening treatment can be performed on all the regions in the vicinity of the four target corner parts (target corner part regions). Since the configuration for relatively moving the long member 1 and the hardening means 110 with the transportation means 130 and the operation thereof are fundamentally the same as those in the above-mentioned hardening means 110, a detailed explanation is omitted here.

(86) In the present example, in both the hardening means 110a and 110b, an induction-heating coil is adopted as the heating means, and a cooling jacket which uses water as coolant is adopted as the cooling means. Moreover, each hardening means 110a comprises the heating means 7 on the front side and the cooling means 8 on the rear side in the traveling direction of the hardening means 110 with respective to the long member 1 (positive direction of the X-axis), respectively. Similarly, each hardening means 110b comprises the heating means 9 on the front side and the cooling means 10 on the rear side in the traveling direction of the hardening means 110 with respective to the long member 1, respectively.

(87) Furthermore, the hardening surfaces of the heating means 7 and 9 and the cooling means 8 and 10 that the hardening means 110a and 110b comprise, which are surfaces opposing the target corner parts (the two first corner parts 5 and the two second corner parts 6), have shapes corresponding to (along) the shapes of the target corner parts. Namely, the above-mentioned hardening surfaces have shapes along the shapes the hardening target surfaces of the target corner parts, which are surfaces opposing the heating means 7 and 9 and the cooling means 8 and 10. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 13, the hardening surfaces of the hardening means of the third apparatus are configured so as to be bent surfaces approximately in a shape of an L character, which surround the target corner parts from the outside.

(88) (Configuration of Tracing Gauge and Tracing Means)

(89) The third apparatus also further comprises the tracing gauge and the tracing means. The tracing gauge is a member which has a shape corresponding to a ridge line shape consisting of the target corner parts of the long member 1, and is held in an attitude identical to that of the long member 1. The tracing means is a member configured so as to be able to move relatively with respective to the long member 1 and the tracing gauge, not only in the longitudinal direction of the long member 1 and the tracing gauge (X-axis direction), but also in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (Y-axis direction). Since the configuration and operation of the tracing gauge and the tracing means are basically same as those of the above-mentioned first apparatus, a detailed explanation is omitted here.

(90) <Effects>

(91) In accordance with the above, the guide part 190 moves also in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the long member and the tracing gauge along the tracing gauge, and thereby the hardening means 110 moves along the ridge line shape which consists of the target corner parts of the long member. Namely, in accordance with the third apparatus, it is possible to perform the hardening treatment on all the regions in the vicinity of the four target corner parts of the hat-like cross-section (target corner part regions), while strictly controlling the spatial relationship between the long member 1 and the heating means 110 by a simple mechanical means. Furthermore, a changeover can be easily performed by exchanging the tracing gauge with that corresponding to a new workpiece. In addition, since such a simple mechanical means is used, the third apparatus can attain low cost and space-saving simultaneously, as compared with a case where an industrial robot is used.

(92) <Supplement>

(93) By the way, as mentioned above, each of the hardening means 110a and 110b, which the third apparatus comprises, comprises the heating means 7 and 9 on the front side and the cooling means 8 and 10 on the rear side in the traveling direction of the hardening means 110 with respect to the long member 1 (positive direction of the X-axis), respectively. However, the hardening means 110a and 110b may comprise secondary (additional) cooling means 8 and 10 not only on the rear side, but also on the front side of the heating means 7 and 9, respectively. In accordance with this, the hardening treatment (or the tempering treatment) can be performed, not only when moving the hardening means 110a and 110b to one direction in the longitudinal direction of the long member 1, but also when moving the hardening means 110a and 110b to the reverse direction thereof. As a result, the efficiency of the hardening treatment of the long member 1 by the third apparatus can be raised largely.

(94) In the above-mentioned explanation, all the total of four corner parts of the two first corner parts 5 and the two second corner parts 6 are the target corner parts of the hardening treatment by the third apparatus. However, a part of the four corner parts can also be the target corner part by making only a part of the two hardening means 110a and the two hardening means 110b to operate. In accordance with this, the hardening treatment on all or a part of the four corner parts can be divided into multiple times and can be performed sequentially.

(95) Furthermore, as shown in (a) of FIG. 14, for example, the hardening means 110a which can perform the hardening treatment on the two first corner parts 5 can be fixed to the arm 161, and the hardening treatment can be performed only to either one or both of the two first corner parts 5. Similarly, as shown in (b) of FIG. 14, for example, the hardening means 110b which can perform the hardening treatment on the two second corner parts 6 can be fixed to the arm 161, and the hardening treatment can be performed only on either one or both of the two second corner parts 6. Moreover, these hardening treatments can be combined, and the hardening treatment on all or a part of the four corner parts can be divided into multiple times and can be performed sequentially.

(96) In addition, in the hardening means 110 shown in FIG. 14, the two hardening means 110a and 110b are disposed on both of the near side (positive direction side of the Y-axis) and the back side (negative direction side of the Y-axis), respectively. However, only either one of these two hardening means 110a and 110b may be disposed to configure the hardening means 110 so as to be able to perform the hardening treatment individually only on one corner among the four corner parts. In accordance with this, even when the width (dimension in the Y-axis direction) of the top plate part 2 is not constant, the hardening treatment can be performed individually on each corner part, for example.

(97) Furthermore, in the hardening means 110 shown in FIG. 14, the two hardening means 110a and 110b are respectively fixed to the connection members 161a and 161b at a constant interval. However, by attaching the two hardening means 110a and 110b to the connection members 161a and 161b so as to be able to move independently in the Y-axis direction respectively, attaching the rollers 193a and 193b, which the guide part 190 comprises, to the holding member 191 so as to be able to move independently in the Y-axis direction respectively, and further preparing individual tracing means 160 for each of pairs of the corresponding hardening means and the above-mentioned rollers, it is possible to configure such that the hardening treatment can be simultaneously performed on the two first corner parts 5 and the two second corner parts 6 even when the width of the top plate part 2 is not constant.

Fourth Embodiment

(98) Hereafter, an example of the hardening apparatus according to another embodiment of the above-mentioned second present-invention apparatus (which may be referred to as a fourth apparatus hereafter) will be explained detail, referring to drawings. In the present example, a case where a curve of the long member 1 is three-dimensional will be explained.

(99) <Configuration>

(100) Basically, the fourth apparatus has the same configuration as that of the third apparatus except for a point that it has a mechanism which enables tracing in the Z-axis direction since the curve of the bent pipe is three-dimensional as mentioned above. Therefore, in the following explanation, a configuration which is different from that of the third apparatus will be explained in detail, and an explanation about the same configuration as that of the third apparatus may be omitted.

(101) First, since the long member 1 as a workpiece which is a target of the hardening treatment by the fourth apparatus has a three-dimensional curve, the long member 1 itself is adopted as the tracing gauge and supported and fixed at its both ends with holders (151 and 152), unlike the tabular tracing gauge 150 which is specialized in the two-dimensional curve and used in the first apparatus (and the third apparatus).

(102) The tracing means in the fourth apparatus needs to be able to move also in the Z-axis direction, and has the same configuration as the tracing means 160 in the above-mentioned second apparatus 200. Namely, the tracing means in the fourth apparatus can move in all the directions of the X-axis, the Y-axis, and the Z-axis.

(103) Furthermore, the guide part of the fourth apparatus also needs to be configured so as to be able to accurately trace a three-dimensional change of the shape, and it is desirable that the guide part 190 is configured to contact with the tracing gauge 150 from at least 3 directions. Specifically, the guide part 190 of the fourth apparatus is constituted by the rollers 193a, 193b, and 193c rotatably attached to the axis 192a, 192b, and 192c prepared on the stay 194a, 194b, and 194c attached to the holding member 191, as shown in (a) of FIG. 15. Furthermore, the guide part 190 is energized downward (toward the negative direction of the Z-axis) by an energizing means which is not shown. Thereby, the guide part 190 can accurately trace even a curve in the Z-axis direction of the long member 1.

(104) In addition, when the hardening treatment is performed in a state where the back side of the long member 1 (namely, a side opposite to the top plate part 2 of the hat-like cross-section) faces to the upper side (positive direction side of the Z-axis), the guide part 190 may be configured such that the above-mentioned rollers 193a, 193b, and 193c may be contacted with the tracing gauge 150 from the back side (inner side) of the hat-like cross-section, as shown in (b) of FIG. 15, for example. Also in this case, the guide part 190 can accurately trace even a curve in the Z-axis direction of the long member 1 by being energized downward (toward the negative direction of the Z-axis) by an energizing means which is not shown.

(105) In addition, as for any of the exemplifications in (a) and (b) of FIG. 15, a fourth roller which opposes (faces) the roller 193c may be added, instead of preparing an energizing means as mentioned above, to configure such that a curve in the Z-axis direction of the long member 1 is traced accurately.

(106) <Operation>

(107) Since an operation of the fourth apparatus in the hardening treatment is basically the same as the operation of the first apparatus 100 (and third apparatus), an explanation is omitted here.

(108) <Effects>

(109) As mentioned above, in accordance with the fourth apparatus, it is possible to control strictly the spatial relationship between the long member 1 and the heating means 110 by a simple mechanical means even when the long member 1 has a three-dimensional curve. Furthermore, a changeover can be easily performed by exchanging the tracing gauge 150 with that corresponding to a new workpiece. In addition, since such a simple mechanical means is used, the fourth apparatus can attain low cost and space-saving simultaneously, as compared with a case where an industrial robot is used.

(110) <Supplement>

(111) In the hardening means 110 shown in FIG. 13, the hardening means 110a on the back side and the hardening means 110b on the front side of the long member 1 are respectively fixed to the connection member 161c through the connection members 161a and 161b at a constant interval. However, by attaching the hardening means 110a on the back side and the hardening means 110b on the front side to the connection member 161c so as to be able to move independently in the Z-axis direction respectively, attaching rollers, which can trace positions of the first corner part 5 and the second corner part 6 in the Z-axis direction, to the holding member 191 so as to be able to move independently in the Z-axis direction respectively, and further preparing individual tracing means 160 for each of pairs of the corresponding hardening means and the above-mentioned rollers, it is possible to configure such that the hardening treatment can be simultaneously performed on the two first corner parts 5 and the two second corner parts 6 even when the height (dimension in the Z-axis direction) of the sidewall parts 3 is not constant.

Fifth Embodiment

(112) Hereafter, an example of the hardening method according to one embodiment of the above-mentioned second present-invention method (which may be referred to as a second method hereafter) will be explained detail, referring to drawings.

(113) <Configuration>

(114) The second method is a hardening method for a long member, in which any one of the hardening apparatuses for a long member having a hat-like cross-section, according to the present invention (second present-invention apparatus) including the above-mentioned third apparatus and the fourth apparatus is used to perform the hardening treatment on the long member 1. Therefore, the second method includes a hardening process in which the hardening treatment is performed on the target corner part by heating the target corner part with the heating means and thereafter cooling the target corner part with the cooling means while relatively moving the long member 1 and the hardening means 110 in the longitudinal direction by relatively moving the long member 1 and the tracing means with the transportation means.

(115) In the second method, the target corner part includes both the two first corner parts 5 and the two second corner parts 6. And, the above-mentioned hardening process includes the first step, in which the hardening treatment is performed on the two first corner parts, and the second step, in which the hardening treatment is performed on the two second corner parts. Since the details about the hardening treatment in the first step and the second step have been already mentioned in the explanation about the second present-invention apparatus, an explanation is omitted here.

(116) In addition, as mentioned above, the first step and the second step in the hardening process may be performed simultaneously, or may be performed sequentially. When performing sequentially the first step and the second step, it is desirable to perform the second step after performing the first step in the hardening process. Namely, it is desirable to perform the hardening treatment on the corner parts on the front side (second corner parts 6) after the corner parts on the back side (the first corner parts 5) of the long member 1 having a hat-like cross-section. Therefore, in the second method, the second step is performed after performing the first step in the hardening process.

(117) In addition, in the present example, the long member 1 is fixed in a predetermined attitude, and the hardening means 110 is moved. Moreover, in the present example, the hardening apparatus configured such that the hardening means 110a opposing (facing) the two first corner parts 5 located on the back side of the long member 1 and the hardening means 110b opposing the two second corner parts 6 located on the front side of the long member 1 can be individually moved respectively is used.

(118) First, as shown in (b) of FIG. 16, the long member 1 is fixed in a predetermined attitude by jigs (tools) which are not shown (for example, the chucks 121 and 122), and the hardening means 110a (the heating means 7 and the cooling means 8) and the hardening means 110b (the heating means 9 and the cooling means 10) are made to stand by at an end on the negative direction side of the X-axis. Since the respective hardening means move to the positive direction side of the X-axis thereafter, the heating means 7 and the heating means 9 are arranged at the front side (positive direction side of the X-axis) of the cooling means 8 and the cooling means 10, respectively.

(119) Next, as shown in (b) of FIG. 17, the hardening treatment is performed on the entire length of the two first corner parts 5 of the long member 1 by moving the hardening means 110a (the heating means 7 and the cooling means 8) to the positive direction of the X-axis while operating the hardening means 110a. Namely, the first step is performed. As a result, distortion (warp) of the axis of the long member 1 in the longitudinal direction is generated such that the front side (positive direction side of the Z-axis) of the long member 1 becomes convex, and outer end parts (ends of a side opposite to the sidewall parts 3) of the flanges 4 inclined below (toward the negative direction of the Z-axis).

(120) Next, as shown in (b) of FIG. 18, the hardening treatment is performed on the entire length of the two second corner parts 6 of the long member 1 by moving the hardening means 110b (the heating means 9 and the cooling means 10) to the positive direction of the X-axis, while operating the hardening means 110b. Namely, the second step is performed. As a result, distortion (warp) to a direction opposite to that of the distortion (warp) generated in the first step is generated. Thereby, the distortion (warp) generated in the first step is offset and the long member 1 is restored to its original shape without any distortion (warp).

(121) <Effects>

(122) As mentioned above, in accordance with the second method, even when distortion (warp) is generated in the axis of the longitudinal direction of the long member 1 by the hardening processing on the two first corner parts 5 in the first step such that the front side (namely, the top plate side in the hat-like cross-section) becomes convex, distortion (warp) in a direction opposite to the distortion (warp) generated in the first step is generated by the hardening processing on the two second corner parts 6 in the following second step. As a result, the distortion (warp) generated in the first step is at least partially offset by the distortion (warp) generated in the second step, and the distortion (warp) of the axis of the long member 1 in the longitudinal direction is reduced.

(123) <Supplement>

(124) As mentioned above, in the second method, the execution of the second step is started after the execution of the first step is completed. However, as long as the second step is performed after the first step in each position of the corner parts in the longitudinal direction (the X-axis direction) of the long member 1, the execution of the second step may be started before the completion of the first step. In this case, as the whole hardening method, the second step comes to be started in the middle of the execution of the first step. Specifically, for example, in the above-mentioned second method, the hardening means 110b is moved later than the hardening means 110a by a predetermined distance (predetermined time period). Thereby, the second step can be started during the execution of the first step as the whole hardening method, while the second step can be started after the first step at each point of the target corner part.

(125) By the way, as mentioned above, the distortion (warp) may occur in the axis in the longitudinal direction of the long member 1 such that the front side thereof becomes convex by the hardening treatment on the two first corner parts 5 in the first step. As mentioned above, when such distortion (warp) is large, it may become difficult to use the long member 1 as a constituent member of a vehicle, for example.

(126) However, the distortion (warp) generated in the first step is generally small, and is not large enough for obstructing the hardening treatment in the hardening apparatus using the tracing gauge as mentioned above. Specifically, the spacing between the long member 1 as a workpiece and the hardening means 110 is comparatively large (about 3 to 5 mm), while the size of the distortion (warp) generated in the first step is about 0.5 mm. Therefore, even when the distortion (warp) as mentioned above is generated in the first step, a possibility that the long member 1 and the hardening means 110 may interfere during the execution of the hardening treatment.

(127) Furthermore, uneven heating resulting from the above-mentioned distortion (warp), etc., can be reduced by adjusting power supply to an induction-heating coil as the heating means and the velocity of the long member 1 and the hardening means 110 moving relatively in the longitudinal direction, etc., for example.

Sixth Embodiment

(128) By the way, in all of the various embodiments of the present invention, which have been explained so far, it is supposed that the spatial relationship between the workpiece and the hardening means (especially, heating means) is strictly controlled by holding the hardening means at the tracing means which can move along the shape of the tracing gauge which has a shape substantially identical to the long member as a workpiece.

(129) However, the effect of reducing the distortion (warp) of the axis of the long member in the longitudinal direction after the hardening treatment by performing the hardening treatment not only on the corner part on the front side (top plate side), but also on the corner part on the back side of the long member having a hat-like cross-section as mentioned above can be attained irrespective of the with or without of control of the spatial relationship between the long member and the hardening means using the tracing gauge.

(130) For example, it is also possible to reduce the distortion (warp) of the axis of the long member in the longitudinal direction after the hardening treatment by performing the hardening treatment on the two first corner parts located on the back side and the two second corner parts located on the front side of the long member while making a multi-axis robot (articulated industrial robot) etc. hold one or both of the long member and the hardening means and making the robot control the spatial relationship between the long member and the hardening means.

(131) When performing the hardening treatment on the long member having a hat-like cross-section using an industrial robot, etc. as mentioned above, the hardening treatment can be accurately performed on the target corner part, flexibly correspond to even a long member with the width of its top plate part and/or the height of its wall part not constant.

(132) Although some the embodiments and modifications having specific configurations have been explained sometimes referring to the accompanying drawings as mentioned above, for the purpose of explaining the present invention, It should not be interpreted that the scope of the present invention is limited to these exemplary embodiments and modifications, and it is needless to say that any correction can be suitably added within the limits of the matters described in the claims and the specification.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

(133) 100 and 200: Hardening Apparatus, 101 and 102: Base, 110, 110a and 110b: Hardening Means, 111: Heating Means, 112 and 113: Cooling Means, 120: Bent Pipe, 121 and 122: Chuck, 130: Transportation Means, 131: Servomotor, 132: Ball Screw, 133: Guide Rail, 140: Control Means, 150: Tracing Gauge, 151 and 152: Holder, 153: Stand, 160: Tracing Means, 161 and 168: Arm, 161a, 161b, and 161c: Connection Member, 163 and 165, and 165: Base, 164 and 164: Guide Rail, 166: Slider, 167: Pantograph, 170: Frame, 171 and 172: Guide Rail, 173: Base, 174: Pulley, 175: Wire, 176: Weight, 181 to 184: Support Member, 191: Holding Member, 192a, 192b and 192c: Axis, 193a, 193b and 193c: Roller, 194a, 194b and 194c: Stay, 1: Long Member having a hat-like cross-section, 2: Top Plate Part, 3: Sidewall Part, 4: Flange Part, 5: First Corner Part, 6: Second Corner Part, 7 and 9: Heating Means, and 8 and 10: Cooling Means.