Side Wall Patents (Class 373/130)
  • Patent number: 10401088
    Abstract: This invention provides a high temperature vacuum furnace including a hot zone designed for improved energy efficiency resulting in lower electrical power usage, lower manufacturing costs and easier replacement of components for lower maintenance costs. The hot zone has an outer supporting wall and an inner insulating wall surrounded by a new HEFVAC high density, high strength, low conductivity and low moisture-sensitive graphite insulation board ring connected in a unique z-shaped arrangement that contains radiant energy within the hot zone during the heat treating cycle. The hot zone further includes heating elements made of high quality graphite for increased thermal efficiency of the furnace. Also included in the hot zone are lower mass, tapered graphite nozzles that can sustain high pressure gas flow and decrease conductive heat losses from the nozzles to the hot zone chamber outer supporting wall during the heat treating cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Inventors: Real Fradette, Benjamin Isaak, Robert Wilson
  • Patent number: 10080261
    Abstract: It was learned that in an insulation heating coil used for continuously heating a running steel sheet, the conventional insulated structure of the induction heating coil was selected focusing on the heat resistance and insulation ability of the insulation itself and cannot prevent a drop in insulation ability due to entry of fine metal particles (for example, zinc fumes) in the surroundings. Therefore, an insulated structure of induction heating coil preventing the entry of zinc fumes and other fine metal particles, not falling in strength even in a high temperature environment, and able to extend the service life of the induction coil is provided. Specifically, the surface of the induction heating coil is covered with a ceramic cloth made of alumina-silica ceramic long-fibers not containing boron and the surface of that is formed with a heat-resistant insulation layer made of a surface hardening ceramic material containing alumina or alumina-silica fine particles and alumina-silica ceramic short-fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Terashima, Seiji Ieda
  • Patent number: 9874400
    Abstract: A combustion tube mounting system releasably mounts a combustion tube to an aperture in the floor of a furnace housing. The combustion tube has a base assembly with a cam and can be manually or automatically unlocked by cam pins in the floor for selectively engaging the cam for lowering the combustion tube from the floor of the furnace. When a new combustion tube is placed on the lower seal assembly and raised, it automatically aligns and engages the upper furnace seal and engages cams on the floor of the furnace housing which lock the combustion tube in place as it is introduced into the furnace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Leco Corporation
    Inventor: Gordon C. Ford
  • Patent number: 9874399
    Abstract: A combustion tube mounting system releasably mounts a combustion tube to an aperture in the floor of a furnace housing. The combustion tube has a base assembly with a cam and can be manually or automatically unlocked by cam pins in the floor for selectively engaging the cam for lowering the combustion tube from the floor of the furnace. When a new combustion tube is placed on the lower seal assembly and raised, it automatically aligns and engages the upper furnace seal and engages cams on the floor of the furnace housing which lock the combustion tube in place as it is introduced into the furnace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Leco Corporation
    Inventor: Gordon C. Ford
  • Patent number: 9640320
    Abstract: In a method of producing a grain-oriented electrical steel sheet by subjecting a coil for grain-oriented electrical steel sheet after cold rolling to a primary recrystallization annealing, applying an annealing separator thereon, and conducting final annealing, rapid heating is conducted at a rate of not less than 80° C./sec from 500° C. to 700° C. in the course of heating for the primary recrystallization annealing, and a temperature keeping treatment is conducted for 2 to 100 hours from 700° C. to 1000° C. in the course of heating for the final annealing, and further, the final annealing is preferably conducted by laying a thermal insulation material on an upper surface of a coil supporting stand in an annealing furnace used for the final annealing concentrically from the outer periphery of the coil supporting stand and over an area of not less than 20% of the radius of the coil supporting stand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: JFE STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Makoto Watanabe, Yukihiro Shingaki, Toshito Takamiya, Tomoyuki Okubo
  • Patent number: 9466515
    Abstract: A heat treatment furnace includes: a processing vessel configured to accommodate therein at least one object to be processed; a cylindrical heat insulating member covering a periphery of the processing vessel; and a heater disposed along an inner circumferential surface of the heat insulating member. The heater includes strip-shaped corrugated heater elements disposed along the inner circumferential surface of the heat insulating member, each of the heater elements having valley portions protruding outward and mountain portions protruding inward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignees: NICHIAS CORPORATION, TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Makoto Kobayashi, Kenichi Yamaga, Akira Sasaki, Daisuke Ikeda, Takahiro Koike
  • Patent number: 9203206
    Abstract: An assembly includes an etalon assembly for dynamically locking a frequency of an optical beam to a set frequency, the etalon assembly being external to a laser source assembly that outputs the optical beam. The etalon assembly includes an etalon that receives the optical beam and generates via interference effects a transmission beam, the etalon having a thermal tuning range greater than one half of a free spectral range of the etalon. The etalon assembly also includes an etalon heater mounted to the etalon such that the etalon heater is configured to adjust the temperature of the etalon. The assembly includes a controller configured to retrieve calibration data based on the set frequency, calculate a set temperature for the etalon using a thermal tuning algorithm and the calibration data, and control the etalon heater such that the etalon has a temperature equal to the calculated set temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Oclaro Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Cannon Carter, Barrie Flintham, Adrian Perrin Janssen, Colin Smith
  • Patent number: 9144114
    Abstract: Insert for electrical furnaces comprising an insulating shell and a coiled heater element, the heater element comprising element wire that consists of at least two sections that are interconnected via a bend of element wire in such a way that the bend and the sections mutually form a loop of element wire. A fastening member is fixedly anchored in the insulating shell and arranged in the area of the bend in such a way that the element wire in a section directly connected to the bend is prevented from expanding past the fastening member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Sandvik Intellectual Property AB
    Inventor: Thomas Lewin
  • Patent number: 9064912
    Abstract: A heating device includes: a heating element including a mountain part and a valley part alternately connected in plurality to form a meander shape, and a holding body receiving part an end of the valley part, where a width of the holding body receiving part is greater than that of the valley part; an insulating body installed at an outer circumference of the heating element with both ends of the heating element fixed thereto; and a staple pin penetrating the holding body receiving part and a neighboring holdings body receiving part to fix the heating element to the insulating body, where the staple pin is dislocated with respect to a center of the holding body receiving part and an amount of dislocation of the staple pin varies according to a distance between the holding body receiving part and the both ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Kokusai Electric, Inc.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Murata, Tetsuya Kosugi, Shinobu Sugiura, Masaaki Ueno
  • Patent number: 8987641
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for a high performance heater. In an embodiment, the high performance heater comprises a first stackable tray comprising a first alignment pin that insulates a first heating element disposed in the first stackable tray; a second stackable tray comprising a second alignment pin that insulates a second heating element disposed in the second stackable tray, wherein a top of the first alignment pin fits into a cutout of a bottom of the second alignment pin when the first and second stackable trays are stacked, and wherein the first and second stackable trays comprise one or more materials, an outer diameter and an inner diameter, and wherein an area between the outer diameter and the inner diameter of the stackable trays comprises at least one cutout portion that allows expansion of the material(s) when the high performance heater is at high temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Inventor: Arsalan Emami
  • Patent number: 8634451
    Abstract: A device includes circuitry configured to receive orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols of a training sequence, and circuitry configured to correlate training samples of the OFDM symbols to determine a frequency offset and configured to provide the determined frequency offset to perform frequency offset compensation for at least one multiple-in-multiple-out (MIMO)-OFDM frame to correct samples of training symbols in the at least one MIMO-OFDM frame. The correlated training samples correspond to a number of receive antennas through which the training sequence was received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: Ravi Narasimhan, Hemanth Sampath, Hsiao-Cheng Tang
  • Patent number: 8565283
    Abstract: An insert intended for electrical furnaces and of the type that includes an insulating shell having an outside and an inside having a rotationally symmetrical, e.g., cylindrical shape, and a heater element that is arranged inside the insulating shell and extends several turns in a continuous loop having an overall shape corresponding to the rotationally symmetrical shape of the insulating shell. The continuous loop includes spaced-apart bends, which divide the same into individual sections of limited length to which occurring thermal expansion is isolated locally. In an exemplary embodiment, the bends are U-shaped to impart to the continuous loop a meander shape. Another exemplary embodiment relates to a heater element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Sandvik Intellectual Property AB
    Inventor: Thomas Lewin
  • Patent number: 8476560
    Abstract: A thermal processing furnace comprises: a tubular heat insulation member 4 surrounding a processing vessel 3 for receiving and thermally processing an object to be processed w; a heating resistor 5 helically arranged on an inner circumferential surface of the heat insulation member 4; and a support member 13 disposed on the inner circumferential surface of the heat insulation member 4, the support member 13 supporting the heating resistor 5 such that the heating resistor 5 can be thermally expanded and thermally shrunk. The thermal processing furnace further comprises: a movement prevention member 15 disposed on the heating resistor 5 to be in contact with one side surface of the support member 13 so as to prevent a downward movement of the heating resistor 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Makoto Kobayashi, Kenichi Yamaga, Ken Nakao
  • Patent number: 8134100
    Abstract: A heat processing furnace comprises: a processing vessel for receiving an object to be processed by a heat process; a cylindrical heat insulation member surrounding the processing vessel; a helical heating resistor arranged along an inner peripheral surface of the heat insulation member; a support member for supporting the heating resistor. The support member includes a base part positioned on an inside of the heating resistor, and a plurality of support pieces extending radially outward from the base part through spaces between adjacent portions of the heating resistor so as to support the heating resistor, the support member being formed to have a comb-like shape. An upper surface part of each of the support pieces is formed to have a curved shape in order to reduce a frictional resistance generated when the heating resistor is moved upon a thermal expansion and a thermal shrinkage thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Makoto Kobayashi, Ken Nakao
  • Patent number: 8085829
    Abstract: A furnace insulation including fiber modules in the form of at least two cylinder segments (2, 3; 7, 8) that are placed against one another so as to form a cylinder whose internal volume constitutes the furnace space and that are adapted to allow an electrical resistance element (5) to lie against and be fastened in the inner surface (4) of the cylinder. The furnace insulation is characterized in that the inner part of the cylinder includes one or more radially extending or generally radially extending openings (12; 14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Sandvik Intellectual Property AB
    Inventors: Lars Goran Johansson, Lars-Henrik Eklund
  • Patent number: 7888622
    Abstract: A heat-processing furnace comprises: a processing vessel for housing an object to be processed to thermally heat the object to be processed; a cylindrical heat insulating member surrounding the processing vessel; a helical heating resistor disposed along an inner circumferential surface of the heat insulating member; and support members axially disposed on the inner circumferential surface of the heat insulating member, for supporting the heating resistor at predetermined pitches. A plurality of terminal plates are disposed outside the heating resistor at suitable intervals therebetween and attached to the heating resistor, the terminal plates radially passing through the heat insulating member to be extended outside. A plurality of fixing plates are disposed outside the heating resistor at suitable intervals therebetween and attached to the heating resistor, the fixing plates being fixed in the heat insulating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Ken Nakao, Kenichi Yamaga, Makoto Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7838802
    Abstract: The present invention provides a radiation apparatus with capability of preventing heat convection, which comprises a blackbody furnace having a cavity therein and an air pressure adjusting unit. The air pressure adjusting unit coupled to the blackbody furnace for adjusting the air pressure of the open end of the cavity according to the temperature difference between the cavity and the outside environment. By means of the design of the present invention, it is capable of preventing heat convection between the cavity and the outside environment by utilizing the air pressure adjusting unit for controlling the air pressure status around the open end of cavity such that the blackbody furnace is stable for services of calibrations and tests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Bor-Jiunn Wen, Hsin-Yi Ko
  • Publication number: 20100111132
    Abstract: This invention relates to an insert intended for electrical furnaces and of the type that comprises, on one hand, an insulating shell having an outside and an inside having a rotationally symmetrical, e.g., cylindrical shape, and on the other hand a heater element that is arranged inside the shell and extends a plurality of turns in a continuous loop having an overall shape corresponding to the rotationally symmetrical shape of the shell. According to the invention, the wire loop comprises a plurality of spaced-apart bends, which divide the same into a plurality of individual sections of limited length to which occurring thermal expansion is isolated locally. In a preferred embodiment, the bends are U-shaped to impart the wire loop meander shape. In an additional aspect, the invention also relates to a heater element as such.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2008
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Inventor: Thomas Lewin
  • Patent number: 7649158
    Abstract: The invention relates to a furnace (10) for heating preforms (20), of the type that comprises a preform-heating tunnel (12). According to the invention, the tunnel consists of a heating module (18) comprising vertical walls (14, 16) between which the preforms (20) travel. Moreover, at least one wall (16) of the module (18) is provided with at least one heating means (32) which is mounted to supports (34) such that it can move transversely and means (40) for adjusting the transverse position of the heating means (32) comprising at least one member (42) for controlling the movement of the heating means (32) between at least two indexed positions. The invention is characterized in that the control member (42) comprises an indexing boss (54) which can deform elastically such as to fit inside the complementary indexing notches (56, 58) on the corresponding support (34) at proximal and distal positions respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Sidel Participations
    Inventor: Christophe Doudement
  • Publication number: 20090211519
    Abstract: An electrode anchoring structure in a crystal-growing furnace includes at least one graphite electrode pillar, at least one metal electrode pillar, at least one anchoring base, and at least one locking nut, wherein the graphite electrode pillar is engaged with a nut base of the metal electrode pillar, and the at least one metal electrode pillar is, through the anchoring base, is secured to furnace wall. Therefore, the at least one graphite electrode pillar acts both as weight support and electrical-conducting electrode. Since the flange welded on furnace wall has a greater area exposed to the atmosphere, a desirable cooling effect can be achieved, and temperature drop can be expedited if water spray is performed. The anchoring base is provided with a resilient washer, such that a resilient force can be employed to adjust loading of each graphite electrode pillar in an axial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2008
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: Green Energy Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Shiow-Jeng Lew, Hur-Lon Lin
  • Patent number: 7576306
    Abstract: An electric heating element with radiant tube comprising a radiation pipe (1) and an electric heating element (2, 3) contained in said pipe, wherein the heating element has legs that run to and fro in the pipe, and wherein the heating element is connected at one end of the pipe close to a furnace wall with electric power outlets through which electric current is fed to the element, wherein the element is supported in the pipe by ceramic discs (9) that are provided with through-penetrating holes through which the legs of the elements extend, and wherein two elements (2, 3) are disposed sequentially in said radiation pipe along its long axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Sandvik Intellectual Property AB
    Inventor: Thomas Lewin
  • Patent number: 7564007
    Abstract: A kiln of the pottery or glass type and of insulating firebrick or ceramic fiber with an interior wall includes: a ceramic holder for holding a wound electrical heating element; a channel in the interior wall for receiving and supporting the ceramic holder. The ceramic holder is removably positionable within the slot with means for receipt and holding the wound electrical heating element when the ceramic holder is positioned within the channel in a first preferred embodiment, the ceramic holder has a supporting surface for receipt of the heating element and an inner, upper lip for holding the heating element on the ceramic holder. The interior wall has a horizontal retaining slot aligned with the ceramic holder supporting surface, the supporting surface has an outer end received within the retaining slot and an inwardly angled bore and a pin passing through the bore into the interior wall for holding the ceramic holder removably in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Inventor: James G. Bailey
  • Patent number: 7487356
    Abstract: An encoding apparatus that embeds a watermark in host data is provided. A multiplexer generates a plurality of bit sequences by adding initial data to the head of the watermark. A scrambler scrambles a plurality of the bit sequences respectively and generates a plurality of scrambled watermarks. An embedder embeds a plurality of the scrambled watermarks in the host data and generates a plurality of candidate watermarked host data. A signal-to-noise ratio calculator evaluates the robustness of the watermarks hidden in the respective candidate watermarked host data. A selector selects one candidate that has the highest level of the robustness as a final watermarked host data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akiomi Kunisa
  • Patent number: 7390361
    Abstract: A semiconductor single crystal manufacturing apparatus which can manufacture a single crystal of high oxygen concentration to that of low oxygen concentration within a prescribed standard range of oxygen concentration, as a wafer material for semiconductor integrated circuits, with a high yield, is provided. Heat shields 20, 21 are provided in the entire annular area between respective adjacent heaters of the heaters 4a, 4b, 4c for heating the crucible 3 from the outside periphery side. By using the heat shields 20, 21 for localizing the respective heating regions for the heaters to actively control the temperature distribution for the crucible 3 and melt 8 in the crucible, a single crystal of high oxygen concentration to that of low oxygen concentration can be manufactured within a prescribed standard range of oxygen concentration with a high yield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Sumco Techxiv Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuhiro Iida, Akiko Noda, Junsuke Tomioka
  • Patent number: 7260161
    Abstract: Disclosed is a hybrid multi-user interference cancellation method for canceling interference between a plurality of user signals, which comprises: receiving a plurality of external user signals, calculating powers of the user signals, and numbering the calculated signal powers in their intensity orders; sorting the user numbers in descending order; forming at least one user cluster so that the signal powers following the sorted user numbers may differ less from a central value or a mean value in the same cluster; and performing parallel interference cancellation on the respective user signals within the same cluster, and performing successive interference cancellation between the formed clusters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Sang-Hyun Lee, Soo-Jung Jung, Kyung-Hi Chang
  • Patent number: 6807220
    Abstract: A heating assembly for use in an electric furnace includes a helical heating element encircled by thermal insulation, and rows of spacers for keeping turns of the heating element spaced apart by predetermined distances. Each spacer includes circumferential side portions facing generally in a circumferential direction of the heating element and converging toward a center region of the spacer to form a radial undercut against which the insulation abuts. The spacers of each row have through holes extending parallel to a longitudinal axis of the heating element. A guide rod extends through the through holes of each row of spacers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: MRL Industries
    Inventor: Kevin B. Peck
  • Patent number: 6125134
    Abstract: An electric furnace assembly includes an elongated metallic resistor element, which is supported adjacent to a furnace wall. The resistor element is bent back and forth in its longitudinal direction and is retained by fixed holding member at positions located furthest away from the furnace wall so as to permit a controlled elongation of the resistor element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: Kanthal AB
    Inventors: Bo Jonsson, Thomas Lewin, Jonas Magnusson
  • Patent number: 6023487
    Abstract: This invention relates to heat treating furnaces which employ electric resistance heating elements and, in particular, to improved processes for repairing such furnaces and heating elements particularly useful in such repair. A typical vacuum furnace employing this invention provides a hot zone that is made for heavy duty heat treating applications. The furnace has a series of banks of axial-spaced electrical resistance heating elements suspended from an inner wall of its hot zone chamber by a series of support rods. Repeated furnace use can result in heating element fractures, which necessitate replacement of the heating elements. The replacement in accordance with this invention is with an element having a thicker and narrower cross section than previously existed in the furnace. The specially designed width-to-thickness aspect ratio heating elements according to this invention enables the elements to have a longer life between replacements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2000
    Inventor: William R. Jones
  • Patent number: 6021155
    Abstract: The present invention provides a high temperature vacuum furnace including a hot zone, which is made for heavy-duty heat treating applications. In a preferred embodiment, the hot zone chamber has an outer and an inner wall. The inner wall includes a heat shield secured to it for containing radiant energy. The hot zone chamber further includes a plurality of banks of electric resistance heating elements spaced axially within the chamber. Heating elements in furnaces according to this invention have a specially designed width-to-thickness aspect ratio, which enables heating elements to have a longer life between replacements. These heating elements can be designed in polygon banks or arrays, which virtually completely surround the workpiece and provide maximum temperature uniformity during heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Inventor: William R. Jones
  • Patent number: 6008477
    Abstract: A helical heating wire is disposed so as to surround a reaction tube, and is held by a heat insulating structure. Support members are arranged at predetermined pitches on the inner circumference of the heat insulating structure to support the heating wire on the inner circumference of the heat insulating structure so as to enable the heating wire to make thermal expansion and thermal contraction. Fixing means are attached to one loop out of every suitable number of loops of the helical heating wire to fix the heating wire to the heat insulating structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Ken Nakao, Makoto Kobayashi, Hisaei Osanai
  • Patent number: 5930285
    Abstract: A support or hanger for an electric heating element in a heat treating furnace is disclosed. The heating element support includes a support arm having first and second end portions. First and second ceramic sleeves extend transversely through the support arm and a bracket surrounds at least three sides of the support arm. The bracket is dimensioned and positioned to engage with, and thereby support, the electric heating element. First and second pairs of ceramic spacers are disposed annularly on said first and second ceramic sleeves, respectively. The ceramic spacers are positioned between the bracket and the support arm to prevent contact between the support arm and the bracket. A pin is disposed within each of the first and second ceramic sleeves and extends through the bracket to support and retain the ceramic sleeves, the ceramic spacers, and the bracket on the support arm. In this arrangement, the heating element bears on the metallic bracket and does not cause wear or damage to the ceramic elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Ipsen International, Inc.
    Inventor: Craig A. Moller
  • Patent number: 5896410
    Abstract: A high temperature furnace formed from a stack of ceramic fiber--toroidal discs each fabricated to have an upper and lower groove for accommodating a heating coil so as to permit thermal elongation without buckling. The stacked array form a hollow cylindrical inner chamber which receives heat in the form of radiation through a window formed by removing a portion of the material between the groove and inner chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Assignee: D.S. Fibertech Corporation
    Inventors: Duong Nguyen, Randall Newcomb, Lawrence Kaserman
  • Patent number: 5497394
    Abstract: A vacuum furnace has a heating chamber heated by metal strip electric heater elements. The elements have insulated mechanical support between their ends to hold them in position in the furnace. Support is provided by a ceramic post having an internal thread in an outer end threaded onto a rod secured to a portion of the furnace. A transverse member at an inner end of the post includes a straight surface normal to the length of the post for engaging the heater element. The heater element is compliantly connected to the straight surface. One embodiment of heater element support is in the form of a T-shaped ceramic post having an internal thread in the leg of the T and a ceramic crossbar having a straight surface normal to the length of the post for receiving the heater element. Another embodiment has a ceramic post having an internal thread in the outer end of the post and a metallic crossbar having a straight surface normal to the length of the post for receiving a heater element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1996
    Assignee: Grier-Jhawar-Mercer, Inc.
    Inventors: Suresh C. Jhawar, John K. Grier, Brian K. Grier
  • Patent number: 5442158
    Abstract: An apparatus for supporting a heating element in a channel formed in a heater base is disclosed. A preferred embodiment includes a substantially U-shaped tantalum member. The U-shape is characterized by two substantially parallel portions of tantalum that each have an end connected to opposite ends of a base portion of tantalum. The parallel portions are each substantially perpendicular to the base portion and spaced apart a distance not larger than a width of the channel and not smaller than a width of a graphite heating element. The parallel portions each have a hole therein, and the centers of the holes define an axis that is substantially parallel to the base portion. An aluminum oxide ceramic retaining pin extends through the holes in the parallel portions and into a hole in a wall of the channel to retain the U-shaped member in the channel and to support the graphite heating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1995
    Assignee: United States Department of Energy
    Inventor: William C. Sawyer
  • Patent number: 5420394
    Abstract: A material processing apparatus includes a casing including an outer wall having a substantially figure eight configuration, a plurality of upper inner walls disposed inside of the outer wall and being spaced apart and having substantially concentric cylindrical configurations, and a lower inner wall disposed inside of the outer wall and disposed below the upper inner walls. The upper inner walls define an upper airtight vessel, while the lower inner wall defines a lower airtight vessel containing a material processing chamber. The outer wall and upper and lower inner walls also define a channel therebetween surrounding the upper and lower vessels for containing a flow of coolant fluid. Also, a heat exchanger is defined by the upper airtight vessel and the portion of the channel defined by the outer wall and upper inner concentrical walls. The heat exchanger is disposed above and connected in flow communication with the material processing chamber in the lower vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1995
    Inventor: Roger D. Eshleman
  • Patent number: 5410567
    Abstract: An induction furnace for heating a portion of an optical preform in order to draw an optical fiber therefrom. The furnace includes a tubular susceptor which is disposed centrally within a housing. The electromagnetic field from a high frequency coil surrounding the susceptor is coupled to the susceptor to heat and reflow a portion of the preform. A cellular refractory tubular insulator is located between the coil and the susceptor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1995
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Kevin R. Brundage, David J. Ulrich
  • Patent number: 5267257
    Abstract: A high temperature vacuum furnace has a circulating path external to the heating chamber for facilitating inert gas circulation during initial convection heating of a high temperature vacuum furnace. The heating chamber of the furnace and a surrounding cooling gas introduction chamber are within a metallic convection shroud in such a way that the space in between defines a heating gas circulation chamber for circulating heated inert gas during low temperature heating for accelerating the heating-up of the hot zone to its normal operating temperatures. Once the hot zone has reached a selected temperature, the inert gas is pumped out and the furnace then operates in a vacuum. Quenching is achieved by introducing cooling gas into the heating chamber via nozzles through the heating chamber walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1993
    Assignee: Grier-Jhawar-Mercer, Inc.
    Inventors: Suresh C. Jhawar, John K. Grier, Michael T. Mercer
  • Patent number: 5265118
    Abstract: A silicon carbide whisker production apparatus manufactured by placing a plurality of lidded reaction vessels in the longitudinal direction of an Acheson furnace at intervals, packing graphite grains in the gaps between the adjacent reaction vessels and around the reaction vessels along the longitudinal direction of the furnace starting with the furnace-side ends of terminal electrodes to form a surrounding heating zone, and packing a heat insulating packing around the surrounding heating zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1993
    Assignee: Tokai Carbon Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Takenaka, Shigeto Mori, Osamu Machida
  • Patent number: 5131005
    Abstract: A melting apparatus in which a material to be melted is accommodated in a crucible made of platinum or its alloy, and electric current passes through the crucible to generate heat ot melt the material. At least a part of the crucible is formed into a double-wall structure having inner and outer peripheral walls. The electric current is caused to pass through the double-wall structure to generate the heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1992
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventors: Toshi Takajo, Kazuo Tanaka
  • Patent number: 4754124
    Abstract: A resistance heater for performing heat treatment of the braze-affected area of a metallic sleeve attached by brazing within and to a metallic tube, comprises a metal tube (10) of which a portion (16) is formed with a spiral groove (11) which penetrates the wall thickness of the tube (10) and thereby defines a heating coil. The radial thickness of the convolutions of the coil varies lengthwise of the coil so that, when energized with electrical current, the coil develops a temperature profile which is determined by the variation in radial thickness. The temperature profile may be selected according to the needs of the brazed joint to be heat treated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1988
    Assignee: United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
    Inventors: Robert G. Howell, Malcolm Stevens
  • Patent number: 4612651
    Abstract: The electric resistance heating elements of a heat treating furnace are suspended within a work chamber by hanger rods threaded into nuts which are welded to the inside of the outer wall of the chamber to avoid the need for forming holes through the outer wall. Spacers are supported by adjacent hanger rods and hold thin radiation shields in spaced relation over the entire span extending from rod-to-rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1986
    Assignee: Abar Ipsen Industries
    Inventors: Craig A. Moller, Eric H. Wolter
  • Patent number: 4608698
    Abstract: A heat treating furnace in which an electrical resistance heating element is disposed in a chamber and is energized by way of a power feed through conductor which extends slidably through the wall of the furnace. An insulating washer and a retaining washer may be installed on and removed from the inner end portion of the feed through conductor from inside the furnace without either removing the conductor from the furnace wall or disconnecting the conductor from the heating element. A power terminal block and inlet and outlet lines for cooling water are adapted to be quickly and easily disconnected from the outer end portion of the feed through conductor to permit the conductor to be easily pulled inwardly through the furnace wall for servicing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1986
    Assignee: Abar Ipsen Industries
    Inventors: Craig A. Moller, Eric H. Wolter
  • Patent number: 4604754
    Abstract: Suspension device for electric resistor elements (5) in furnaces. A rod element (4) is horizontally arranged and is supported by consoles (2,3) at a distance from the furnace walls (1). The resistor element (5) is suspended on the rod element (4) and forms dense winding coils hanging freely from the rod element substantially in a flattened helical configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1983
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1986
    Assignee: Bulten-Kanthal AB
    Inventor: John H. Haglund
  • Patent number: 4595826
    Abstract: An improved heat treatment furnace and method of constructing the same is enclosed wherein the duct work of the furnace includes directional vanes and adjustable plenum vents and chamber dampers to yield a substantially uniform air flow pattern within the heat treatment chamber. The plenum vents and chamber dampers are provided with remotely operable actuating means which permit rapid adjustment of the vents and dampers from the exterior of the furnace during the heat treatment process and/or furnace certification. The furnace additionally incorporates a novel ribbon heating element/fiber insulation assembly and construction method which substantially reduces furnace operating costs and insures that only convectional heat transfer (as opposed to radiant) occurs within the heat treatment chamber of the furnace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1986
    Inventors: Reginald F. Duran, Jack L. Brass
  • Patent number: 4575619
    Abstract: A heating unit combining a block of thermal and electrical insulating material and an electrical resistance element in which the block contains a mass of ceramic fibers bound together and has an elongated slot with confronting walls rising to the surface of the block from opposite sides of a land, and the resistance element is in the form of a thin member constructed of a continuous resistance wire which is provided with opposite bends to form a serpentine shape, the bends being embedded in the opposite walls of the block to secure the electrical resistance element on the block, and the resistance element abutting the land of the slot between the walls thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1986
    Assignee: General Signal Corporation
    Inventor: Ludwig Porzky
  • Patent number: 4573164
    Abstract: Utility model patent for a support for electrical resistances of ovens or kilns with ceramic mantle thermal insulation, used to support resistances of the kind consisting of a filament or ribbon of electrical conductor material laid in a sinuous or fretwork fashion on supports and, in this model, comprised of an isosceles-triangular end 1 which is driven into the mantle 2 and followed by a middle flange 3 which is in turn followed by a cylindrical end 4 on which rests the filament or ribbon constituting the resistance 5, the part being completed with a removable ring 8 which is placed on the free end of the end 4 and holds fast on the said end section 4 the portion of ribbon or filament constituting the resistance 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1986
    Assignee: Combustol Industria e Comercio Ltda.
    Inventor: Ozias A. Gnutzmans
  • Patent number: 4559631
    Abstract: A heat treating furnace having a work chamber of circular cross-section and having banks of electric resistance heating elements formed by rigid and elongated graphite bars. The graphite bars of each bank are interconnected so as to form an octagon located closely adjacent the circular wall of the work chamber and closely approximating the circular shape of the chamber. As a result of the octagonal arrangement, ring-like banks of rigid graphite elements may be space longitudinally along the circular work chamber to enable front-to-rear temperature trim zones to be established in the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1985
    Assignee: Abar Ipsen Industries
    Inventor: Craig A. Moller
  • Patent number: 4553246
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for insulating an electric furnace having resistive heating elements in which precast support rings comprising studs, a ring and a plurality of rods are welded to a furnace wall alternatively with placing batts of ceramic fiber insulation over the support rings against the furnace wall to form an inner insulated furnace wall. The rods have rotatably mounted removable ceramic hangers having an inner hook for supporting a serpentine electric heating element such that there is no danger of a short circuit with the metal support ring if the hanger fails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1985
    Inventor: C. T. Christie
  • Patent number: 4504957
    Abstract: A high temperature box annealing furnace for metallic coil annealing practices. The furnace comprises a fixed base and a removable bell capable of achieving a sealed relationship with the base. The interior of the bell side walls, end walls and roof are lined with ceramic fiber insulation and are provided with electrical resistance heating elements. The heating elements are divided into at least two separately controllable zones, a first zone including the heating elements mounted on the bell roof and the upper portions of the bell side and end walls and a second zone including the heating elements mounted on the lower portion of the bell side and end walls. The base comprises a steel framework supporting a cast refractory base member configured to support one or more coils. Each coil is provided with a cover and the cast refractory base member provides a sand seal for the lower edge of the covers. The cast refractory base has an atmosphere inlet for each coil positioned at the center or eye of the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1982
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1985
    Assignee: Armco Inc.
    Inventors: John R. McClelland, Wade S. Wright, Edward P. Diamond, Leroy C. Pryor, Douglas R. Olson
  • Patent number: 4493089
    Abstract: A kit is provided that is especially designed for relining electric furnaces of circular cross section and relatively standard dimensions. Prefabricated rings of ceramic fibers bonded together with an inorganic binder form integral, rigid bodies that can be easily handled. Some rings are provided with protruding hangers at predetermined desired locations, spaced around the interior circumference of the ring. The hangers are each formed with an upturned hook at one end of a short intermediate section that supports the heating ribbon and with a straight, elongated section at the other end thereof which is oriented at an angle of between about 115.degree. and about 155.degree. thereto. The elongated ends fit into downwardly inclined holes which are correspondingly oriented at an angle between 25.degree. and 65.degree. to the interior, vertical, circumferential wall of the ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1985
    Assignee: Refractory Poroducts Co.
    Inventor: R. Bruce Abell