US 12,331,996 B2
Modular device for positioning metal parts during thermal treatment operations
Vincent Delaire, Thiers (FR); and Laurent Gardien, Dolomieu (FR)
Assigned to BODYCOTE, Saint Priest (FR)
Appl. No. 17/630,834
Filed by BODYCOTE, Saint Priest (FR)
PCT Filed Jul. 23, 2020, PCT No. PCT/EP2020/070836
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jan. 27, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/018734, PCT Pub. Date Feb. 4, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 1908685 (FR), filed on Jul. 30, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0276005 A1, Sep. 1, 2022
Int. Cl. F27D 5/00 (2006.01); C21D 9/00 (2006.01)
CPC F27D 5/005 (2013.01) [C21D 9/0025 (2013.01); F27D 5/0018 (2013.01); F27D 2005/0081 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A reusable modular system to position and hold metal parts in a heat treatment furnace during heat treatment thereof, the modular system comprising:
a plurality of components that can be assembled with one another,
each component being made of a material suitable for heat treatment of parts, the components comprising studs arranged as vertical load transfer elements and beams arranged as horizontal load transfer elements,
each stud having a top end presenting an upper face and an opposite, bottom end, each stud having a first side presenting a first inner face extending between the top end and the bottom end and an adjacent second side presenting a second inner face extending between the top end and the bottom end, the first side comprising a first vertical groove open to the first inner face and to the upper face, the second side comprising a second vertical groove open to the second inner face and to the upper face,
each beam having a first end and an opposite, second end,
the studs and beams being made of different materials,
wherein the beams, when assembled with said studs, form a frame, wherein,
the first vertical groove of a first one of the studs engages the first end of a first one of the beams and the second vertical groove of the first one of the studs engages the first end of a second one of the beams,
the first vertical groove of a second one of the studs engages the second end of the first one of the beams and the second vertical groove of the second one of the studs engages the first end of a third one of the beams,
the first vertical groove of a third one of the studs engages the second end of the third one of the beams and the second vertical groove of the third one of the studs engages the first end of a fourth one of the beams, and
the first vertical groove of a fourth one of the studs engages the second end of the fourth one of the beams and the second vertical groove of the fourth one of the studs engages the second end of the second one of the beams; and
positioners installed on, and extending along on top of, each of the beams,
the positioners each being a bar of rectangular section, each positioner having a serrated upper edge and notches formed in the serrated upper edge, each positioner having a first end and an opposite, second end, wherein,
the first vertical groove of the first one of the studs engages the first end of a first one of the positioners and the second vertical groove of the first one of the studs engages the first end of a second one of the positioners,
the first vertical groove of a second one of the studs engages the second end of the first one of the positioners and the second vertical groove of the second one of the studs engages the first end of a third one of the positioners,
the first vertical groove of a third one of the studs engages the second end of the third one of the positioners and the second vertical groove of the third one of the studs engages the first end of a fourth one of the positioners, and
the first vertical groove of a fourth one of the studs engages the second end of the fourth one of the positioners and the second vertical groove of the fourth one of the studs engages the second end of the second one of the positioners.