Abstract: A uniform flow control system for processing equipment with a plurality of work pieces located within the processing equipment, including a gas circulating device that circulates gas, a work chamber that can accommodate the plurality of work pieces and an expansion chamber that is located outside the work chamber and that guides gas to the work chamber. The expansion chamber includes a first chamber that extends along a first surface of the work chamber, a second chamber that extends along a second surface of the work chamber to a side of the first chamber, and a third chamber that extends from an end of the first chamber that is opposite the gas circulating device and below an end of the second chamber that is opposite the gas circulating device.

Abstract: A uniform flow control system for processing equipment with a plurality of work pieces located within the processing equipment, including a gas circulating device that circulates gas, a work chamber that can accommodate the plurality of work pieces and an expansion chamber that is located outside the work chamber and that guides gas to the work chamber. The expansion chamber includes a first chamber that extends along a first surface of the work chamber, a second chamber that extends along a second surface of the work chamber to a side of the first chamber, and a third chamber that extends from an end of the first chamber that is opposite the gas circulating device and below an end of the second chamber that is opposite the gas circulating device.

Abstract: A temperature control system for obtaining a desired soak temperature of a workpiece driven through the brazing and annealing system includes a convection muffle for heating the workpiece within a brazing zone of the brazing and annealing system. The temperature control system also includes a first thermocouple positioned above the workpiece and measures a first real-time temperature of an atmospheric convection current directed towards the workpiece before the workpiece absorbs heat from the atmospheric convection current. A second thermocouple is positioned beneath the workpiece and measures a second real-time temperature of the atmospheric convection current after the workpiece has absorbed the heat from the atmospheric convection current.

Abstract: A convection muffle furnace for brazing and/or annealing a workpiece includes a muffle having towers formed integrally therewith and being mounted movable relative to a top wall of a furnace. Circulation fans are mounted in the towers so as to move along with the muffle during its expansion and contraction for producing forced convection heat transfer.

Abstract: A reverberatory aluminum melting/holding furnace is formed of an enclosure for containing a molten metal bath in which a workload to be processed is immersed, a plurality of gas-fired burners for heating the metal bath, and a control system for measuring heat absorbed by the furnace refractory so as to rapidly bring the furnace to a pre-set metal bath temperature without any significant overshoot. The enclosure has a wall layer of insulating refractory material disposed on its interior. The control system includes a first thermocouple element disposed adjacent the "hot face" of the wall layer, and a second thermocouple disposed adjacent the "cold face" of the wall layer. The plurality of gas-fired burners are switched from a "high fire" to a "low fire"/off condition in response to the temperatures sensed by the first and second thermocouple elements prior to reaching of the pre-set metal bath temperature.

Abstract: An ingot pusher furnace of the vertical air flow type includes adjustable side baffles hingedly connected to lower ends of respective vertical side baffles to prevent the "short circuiting" of heated gases around the ends of an ingot to be heated. The adjustable side baffles are movable from a vertical position to an angled position so that its upper ends are in closely spaced proximity with the outer faces on the end portions of the shorter length ingot so as to produce a more uniform and faster heat transfer along the entire length thereof.

Abstract: An ingot pusher furnace includes means for reducing heat loss from the charging and discharging ends of the furnace so as to produce a more efficient and uniform heating of the ingots. The pusher furnace includes support rails which extend between a first opening in the front wall and a second opening in the rear wall and terminates inside of the charging and discharging doors. The charging and discharging doors extend below the support rails in their closed position so as to provide a positive seal. A first rail drawbridge is arranged adjacent the charging door to facilitate movement of the ingots into the furnace enclosure. The second rail drawbridge is arranged adjacent the discharging door to facilitate movement of the ingots out of the furnace enclosure.

Abstract: An ingot pusher furnace includes means for reducing heat loss from the charging and discharging ends of the furnace so as to produce a more efficient and uniform heating of the ingots. The pusher furnace includes support rails which extend between a first opening in the front wall and a second opening in the rear wall and terminates inside of the charging and discharging doors. The charging and discharging doors extend below the support rails in their closed position so as to provide a positive seal.

Abstract: An ingot pusher furnace of the vertical air flow type includes distributing means for preventing short circuiting of a gaseous medium around the ends of ingots to be heated so as to produce a more uniform heat transfer along the entire length of the ingots. The distributing means comprises a pair of air distribution baffles which force the gaseous medium contained in an enclosure to flow towards the center portions of the ingots so as to facilitate uniform heating throughout the ingots. In an alternate embodiment, the distributing means comprises a pair of movable side baffles which is movable to an angled position so that its lower ends are adjacent the ends of the ingots.

Abstract: An ingot pusher furnace of the vertical air flow type includes distributing means for preventing short circuiting of a gaseous medium around the ends of ingots to be heated so as to produce a more uniform heat transfer along the entire length of the ingots. The distributing means comprises a pair of air distribution baffles which force the gaseous medium contained in an enclosure to flow towards the center portions of the ingots so as to facilitate uniform heating throughout the ingots. In an alternate embodiment, the distributing means comprises a pair of movable side baffles which is movable to be angled position so that its lower ends are adjacent the ends of the ingots.

Abstract: An ingot furnace pusher furnace includes a fixed baffle assembly suspended from a furnace top wall. The baffle assembly includes a horizontal top baffle plate and a bottom baffle sheet disposed below the top plate. The bottom baffle sheet consist of a center portion and a pair of first and second upwardly sloping end portions connected to the center portion. The center portion is positioned substantially parallel to an upper suface of a center portion of the ingot. A first deflection baffle is rotatably supported at its one end by a pipe to the baffle assembly adjacent the first sloping end portion. A second deflection baffle is rotatably supported at its one end by a pipe to the baffle assembly adjacent the second sloping end portion. Linkage devices are connected to the other ends of the first and second deflection baffles for moving the same between a horizontal position parallel to the upper surface of the ingot and an acute angle position relative to the horizontal position.

Abstract: An ingot pusher furnace includes a horizontal baffle assembly suspended from a frame member located above a furnace top wall. The baffle assembly includes of a center portion and a pair of first and second upwardly sloping end portions connected to the center portion. The center portion is positioned substantially parallel to an upper surface of a center portion of the ingot. A first upper horizontal baffle is connected by a first gusset to the first sloping end portion. The first upper baffle is positioned substantially parallel to and above a first end portion of the ingot. A second upper horizontal baffle is connected by a second gusset to the second sloping end portion. The second upper baffle is positioned substantially parallel to and above a second end portion of the ingot.

Abstract: An improved ingot pusher furnace having a base carrying a plurality of laterally slidable shoes with upper surfaces smoothly tapering into said base. A pair of side walls is connected to said base with a top wall connected to said side walls to define a heating enclosure. A pair of end walls are connected to the base, side walls and top walls, each of the end walls having a vestibule, including a pair of double doors therein. A baffle assembly is movably connected to the top wall to be held in spaced proximity from an ingot to be heated.

Abstract: A convection muffle furnace for brazing and/or annealing a workpiece includes a muffle having towers formed integrally therewith and being mounted movable relative to a top wall of a furnace. Circulation fans are mounted in the towers so as to move along with the muffle during its expansion and contraction for producing forced convection heat transfer.