Having Work Atmosphere Recirculating Means Patents (Class 432/199)
  • Patent number: 11060793
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a batch furnace for annealing material comprising a furnace housing which has a closable loading opening, a receiving chamber for furnace material and a device for convective heat transfer to the furnace material by a heat transfer medium, wherein the device for convective heat transfer comprises at least one heating device and at least one fan which is arranged in the furnace housing wherein the receiving chamber is arranged on the suction side of the fan and at least one nozzle array is arranged on the pressure side of the fan, wherein the nozzle array has a central opening which forms an intake duct of the fan and the nozzle array projects radially beyond the fan. The invention further relates to a method for heat treatment of a furnace material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Gautschi Engineering GmbH
    Inventor: Rainer Ehmann
  • Patent number: 9882219
    Abstract: A method of making a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) includes forming a first sublayer of a first electrode on a first side of a planar solid oxide electrolyte and drying the first sublayer of the first electrode. The method also includes forming a second sublayer of the first electrode on the dried first sublayer of the first electrode prior to firing the first sublayer of the first electrode, firing the first and second sublayers of the first electrode during the same first firing step, and forming a second electrode on a second side of the solid oxide electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Emad El Batawi, Patrick Munoz, Dien Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20150072297
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for heating an industrial furnace, wherein, apart from heating gas, a combustible process gas is also fed to a burner arrangement (9) of the industrial furnace for heating an interior space in the course of a heat treatment cycle. In order to optimize the use of the combustible process gas for the heating of the industrial furnace, the heat treatment cycle is split up into a plurality of process phases, wherein the supply of the process gas to the burner arrangement (9) is regulated depending on the process phase. Furthermore, the invention relates to a heating device (8) for an industrial furnace, as well as an industrial furnace that includes the heating device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Rolf Sarres, Marc Angenendt
  • Patent number: 8955235
    Abstract: An oxidation furnace for the oxidative treatment of fibers, which, comprises a process chamber arranged inside a housing, a blowing device arranged in the center of the process chamber, a suction device arranged in the two opposite end regions of the process chamber, at least one ventilator that circulates the hot air through the blowing device, the process chamber and the suction devices, and at least one heating device arranged in the flow path of the hot circulated air. The blowing device comprises a plurality of vertically interspaced blowing boxes comprising an inlet, and, on opposite sides, outlets for the hot air. Two stacks of vertically interspaced blowing boxes may be provided, said blowing boxes being interspaced one behind the other in the direction of movement of the fibers, and/or the built-in boxes in a stack comprise at least one additional outlet in the upper side and the lower side, for hot air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Eisenmann AG
    Inventor: Karl Berner
  • Publication number: 20140272746
    Abstract: A carbon baking furnace has at least one vertical baking shaft with a system and method for positioning green carbon bodies to be baked at the tops of the vertical baking paths and ringing the green carbon bodies with a sacrificial medium such as packing coke. The disclosure provides a carbon baking furnace having a system and method for unloading baked carbon bodies at the bottom of an array of baking paths while supporting the column of carbon bodies remaining in the baking path. The disclosure provides a volatile extraction system that extracts volatile fumes from the upper portion of the furnace and introduces the volatile fumes to the burners in the baking portion of the furnace. This system allows the volatile fumes to be selectively directed to an afterburner and automatically delivered to the afterburner during an emergency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventor: Rick Kiriakos Lazarou
  • Publication number: 20140272745
    Abstract: A pressing arrangement for treatment of articles by hot pressing includes a pressure vessel including a furnace chamber and a furnace to hold the articles. A fan circulates a pressure medium within the furnace chamber, and enhances an inner convection loop at a load compartment. The inner convection loop pressure medium has an upward flow through the load compartment, and a downward flow along a peripheral portion of the furnace chamber. A flow generator generates a flow of pressure medium into the load compartment downstream the fan to enhance the inner convection loop. The flow is generated by transporting the pressure medium upwards from a space below a bottom insulating portion and above a bottom end portion, and by injecting the pressure medium into the load compartment downstream the fan to enhance the inner convection loop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: AVURE TECHNOLOGIES AB
    Inventor: Mats Gardin
  • Patent number: 8764432
    Abstract: A high-pressure press is disclosed which includes a high-pressure vessel enclosing a high-pressure chamber and a high-pressure medium; a housing, separating a volume from the high-pressure press chamber, arranged for holding a fluid; a fan arranged in the high-pressure press chamber outside the housing for circulating the high pressure medium in the high-pressure press chamber; a motor, arranged in the housing and operatively connected to the fan for driving the fan; a cooling device for cooling a portion of the housing wall; and a pumping device arranged for circulating the fluid, the fluid providing a transfer of cold from the portion of the housing wall to the motor, the cooled circulation of the fluid being separated from the high-pressure press chamber by the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Avure Technologies AB
    Inventor: Roger Thunholm
  • Publication number: 20140170581
    Abstract: A heating system includes an air motor with an exhaust; a pump for a hot melt dispensing system and driven by the air motor; and a shroud enclosing at least a portion of the air motor and the pump to direct heat from the pump to the exhaust of the air motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: GRACO MINNESOTA INC.
    Inventors: Michael J. Sebion, Nicholas D. Long, Shaun M. Cook, Mark W. Sheahan, Mark T. Weinberger, Mark J. Brudevold, Joseph E. Tix, John S. Lihwa, Douglas B. Farrow, Robert J. Lind, Paul R. Quam, Daniel P. Ross
  • Patent number: 8647092
    Abstract: A hot isotropic pressure device including: a casing disposed inside a high-pressure container; a heating unit provided inside the casing and forms a hot zone around the treatment material, in which an isotropic pressure treatment is performed on the treatment material using a pressure medium gas. A cooling unit is provided to cool the hot zone by guiding the pressure medium gas, cooled while guided from the upper side toward the lower side at the outside of the casing, into the hot zone. The cooling unit includes a gas introducing unit which guides the pressure medium gas cooled at the outside of the casing from the lower portion of the high-pressure container to the upper portion of the hot zone without any intersection with the pressure medium gas inside the hot zone and introduces the pressure medium gas into the hot zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomomitsu Nakai, Makoto Yoneda, Itaru Masuoka, Katsumi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8647430
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for manufacturing cement clinker in a plant having a cyclone preheater, a precalcination reactor, a rotary furnace and a clinker cooler. In the process, the flue gases from the furnace are conducted to the precalcination reactor, or even to the cyclone preheater. According to the invention, the precalcination reactor is fed with an oxygen-rich gas, the nitrogen content of which is less than 30%, constituting the sole oxygen source for said reactor, and a portion leaving the cyclone preheater is recycled into the plant so as to obtain a suitable flux necessary for suspending matter in said preheater, while the other portion, rich in carbon dioxide, is adapted for the purpose of a treatment for limiting the amount of carbon dioxide discharged into the atmosphere, such as particularly sequestration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Fives FCB
    Inventors: Alain Cordonnier, Sébastien Devroe
  • Patent number: 8635995
    Abstract: An oven for use in an aircraft is disclosed, including a preparation space. A fan and a heater are located behind a separating wall. The separating wall has at least one of the following devices for enhancing the uniformity of air flow: —a throat around a central air intake opening in the separating wall—the separating wall provided with end edges which run close to the side walls of the preparation space and which are curved or bent towards the preparation space—flow guides extending along an edge of the separating wall and directed away from the preparation space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Koninklijke Fabriek Inventum B.V.
    Inventor: Johannes Antonius Maria Kühne
  • Patent number: 8573962
    Abstract: The objective is to provide a high-pressure treatment apparatus with which the pressure or temperature in a treatment chamber can be efficiently adjusted in a short period of time without an overall significant increase in the size or complication of the apparatus. The high-pressure treatment apparatus has a pressure-resistant container having pressure-resistant walls surrounding a treatment chamber, a lid member that closes an open end of the pressure-resistant container, a supply means that supplies a process fluid into the treatment chamber, a partition wall that is thinner than the pressure-resistant wall and is provided along the inside surface of said pressure-resistant container to form a partitioned chamber with said inside surface, and a heat transfer control means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Yamagata, Katsumi Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20130230815
    Abstract: A system for substance separation and energy recovery by thermal treatment is disclosed. The system includes a thermal treatment reactor, a circulation piping, a heat exchanger, a discharge pipeline, a latent heat recovering device, a gasifier, and a combustion furnace. The substance is fed into the thermal treatment reactor for heating the treated substance so as to produces a gaseous substance by evaporation or pyrolysis. The treated substance is separated into the gaseous substance circulating between the heat exchanger and the thermal treatment reactor and a residual substance being fed into the thermal treatment reactor. The increased gaseous substance, during the circulation process, is fed into a latent heat recovery device, wherein the gaseous substance exchanges heat with a cold fluid and condenses to release latent heat, forming a liquid condensed substance and a non-condensed substance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: TAIWAN CLEAN ENERGY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: TAIWAN CLEAN ENERGY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
  • Patent number: 8506284
    Abstract: A method of cooling a load provided in a load compartment in a furnace chamber of a furnace of a hot isostatic pressing device includes releasing hot pressure medium from the load compartment. Cool pressure medium is provided for enabling it to fall through the released hot pressure medium outside the load compartment. The thus obtained mixed pressure medium is led into the load compartment. A hot isostatic pressing device includes a load compartment having an aperture near an upper portion thereof configured to vent warm pressure medium into a region surrounding the compartment and a conduit configured to introduce cool pressure medium into the region surrounding the compartment for mixing with the warm medium. The compartment also includes an aperture near a lower portion thereof configured to receive a mix of warm and cool pressure medium from the region surrounding the compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Flow Holdings GmbH (SAGL) Limited Liability Company
    Inventor: Carl Bergman
  • Publication number: 20130171578
    Abstract: An oxidation furnace for the oxidative treatment of fibers having a processing chamber which can be found in the interior of a housing; at least one blowing device; at least one suction device; at least one ventilator that circulates the hot air through the blowing device, the processing chamber, and the suction device; and at least one heating device that lies in the flow path of the hot circulated air. Deviating rollers guide the fibers in a serpentine manner through the processing chamber such that the fibers lie next to one another as a carpet, the fiber carpet being stretched between each opposing deviating roller over one plane. The air in the processing chamber crosses the planes over which the fiber carpet is stretched at an angle that differs from 0° and 90° using special means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2011
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: EISENMANN AG
    Inventor: Karl Berner
  • Patent number: 8449279
    Abstract: A hot isostatic pressing device according to the present invention includes an inner casing, an outer casing, and a heating means which are provided inside a high-pressure container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomomitsu Nakai, Makoto Yoneda, Shigeo Kofune, Katsumi Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20130059261
    Abstract: Provided is an oven that includes an oven chamber through which a product passes to be treated. An oven wall defines apertures through which the product passes to repeatedly enter and exit the oven chamber during treatment. A vestibule chamber is disposed adjacent to the oven wall and encloses a return air duct that draws in ambient air entering the vestibule chamber and the process gas entering the vestibule chamber from the oven chamber through at least one of the apertures in the oven wall. A nozzle is provided externally of the vestibule chamber and oven chamber in fluid communication with the return air duct. The nozzle receives gas drawn in by the return air duct and directs the combination generally toward at least one aperture formed in the vestibule chamber through which ambient air can enter the vestibule chamber to form an air curtain adjacent to the at least one aperture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: C.A. LITZLER CO., INC.
    Inventor: Philip Sprague
  • Publication number: 20120237885
    Abstract: An apparatus for uniform reactive thermal treatment of thin-film materials includes a chamber enclosing a tube shaped space filled with a work gas and heaters disposed outside the chamber. The apparatus further includes a loading configuration for subjecting a plurality of planar substrates to the work gas in the tube shaped space. Baffles are disposed above and below the loading configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: Stion Corporation
    Inventors: Paul Alexander, Steven Aragon
  • Publication number: 20110168060
    Abstract: In the method according to the invention for producing cement clinker, raw cement meal is preheated in a preheater, the preheated raw cement meal is precalcined in a calciner and the precalcined raw cement meal is burnt in a kiln, fuel and combustion air having an oxygen content of at least 75 mol % being used in the calciner, and the raw cement meal being precalcined in a fluidised bed in the calciner. The exhaust gases occurring in the kiln are delivered to the preheater, bypassing the calciner, and the exhaust gases of the calciner are delivered to a CO2 preparation device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2009
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Inventor: Detlev Kupper
  • Patent number: 7955450
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the heat treatment of workpieces in a heat treatment furnace, wherein the treatment atmosphere in the heat treatment furnace is circulated. According to the invention, a propellant is injected into the heat treatment furnace in such a manner that the treatment atmosphere is essentially circulated by the injected propellant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Linde Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas Mahlo, Gerd Waning
  • Publication number: 20100320197
    Abstract: Systems for heat treating materials are presented. The systems typically involve a fluidized bed that contains granulated heat treating material. In some embodiments a fluid, such as an inert gas, is flowed through the granulated heat treating medium, which homogenizes the temperature of the heat treating medium. In some embodiments the fluid may be heated in a heating vessel and flowed into the process chamber where the fluid is then flowed through the granulated heat treating medium. In some embodiments the heat treating material may be liquid or granulated heat treating material and the heat treating material may be circulated through a heating vessel into a process chamber where the heat treating material contacts the material to be heat treated. Microwave energy may be used to provide the source of heat for heat treating systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2009
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: BABCOCK & WILCOX TECHNICAL SERVICES Y-12, LLC
    Inventors: Edward B. Ripley, Glenn L. Pfennigwerth
  • Patent number: 7650880
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cooking oven for bread, patisserie and pastry products or similar, including at least one cooking chamber with a fixed or moving floor, on which products are supported during cooking, whether directly or on a suitable cooking support, such as a plate a mesh or a cooking mold. There is also a radiant heating device for the floor arranged under the floor, called a floor hotplate. The floor and the floor hotplate have a space therebetween, the space being provided for closed-circuit convective circulation of a heating fluid, the floor having a permeable embodiment for a complementary heating of the products through the same by convection. The oven permits a combination at the floor of heating by conduction and radiation with heating by convection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: MECATHERM, Société Anonyme
    Inventors: René Voegtlin, Suzanne nee Weber Voegtlin, legal representative
  • Publication number: 20090298002
    Abstract: The invention concerns a heat exchanger (4) for a combustion oven, said exchanger comprising a heat exchanging zone (2) provided with means for the passage of hot fumes derived from a burner of the oven, said zone being traversed by at least one means (1a) for transporting a combustion gas to be heated from a combustion gas source, via the heat exchanging zone and to the oven burner, said means (1a) being provided with a wall (1b) designed to enable the combustion gas to be heated by thermal energy transfer, said means (1a) for transporting the combustion gas being arranged in the heat exchanging zone in means (3a) capable of containing an inert gas and provided with a wall (3b) designed to enable the inert gas to be heated by thermal energy transfer of said hot fumes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2005
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Inventors: Gabriel Constantin, Rémi Pierre Tsiava, Bertrand Leroux
  • Patent number: 7427375
    Abstract: A diffuser (24) for an annealing furnace has a plurality of radially extending generally and vertically oriented vanes (40) for radially directing furnace gases. The vanes have top edges (42) defining a generally planar support and the top edges of the vanes have a notch (38) therein for receiving a conduit (34) preferably ring shaped that extend substantially around a center portion of the diffuser plate. The conduit (34) is connected to an inlet (32) for receiving enriching gases and exit ports (50) circumferentially space about said conduit (34) passing the enriching gases into the diffuser (24) to be mixed with ambient furnace gases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: MNP Corporation
    Inventor: Floyd Cushman
  • Patent number: 7196297
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for binder removal and sintering of materials such as ceramic materials and products, LTCC intervals, solid oxide fuel cells and powder metals. A combination of microwave and convection/radiation heating is employed for binder removal and sintering. Preferably, the microwave heating is accomplished using a variable or multi-frequency microwave source. A gas atmosphere is provided in the furnace chamber by one or more eductors which produces a high volume gas circulation in the furnace chamber to achieve a highly uniform gas environment and temperature. The process in accordance with the invention controls the heating cycle, the heat sources and thermal profile depending upon the composition of the particular material being processed. The thermal processing can be accomplished in a batch furnace in which a product is loaded for processing and unloaded after processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: BTU International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald A. Seccombe, Jr., Gary Orbeck
  • Patent number: 7011510
    Abstract: A hot isostatic pressing apparatus (HIP apparatus) comprises a vertically cylindrical high-pressure vessel comprising a high-pressure cylinder 1 and upper and lower lids 2 and 3; a bottomed cylindrical casing 6 capable of housing workpieces 9 and a resistance-wire heater 11, a heat insulating structure 16 equipped with a gas flow regulating valve 15 and formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape on the outside of the casing 6 so as to cover the casing 6, and a heat sink 17 having a water cooling mechanism provided in the space defined by the heat insulating structure 16 and the inner surface of the high-pressure cylinder 1, which are provided within the high-pressure vessel; and a pressure medium gas stirring fan 12 for promoting the temperature uniformity of the space of the treatment chamber 7 for housing the workpieces 9, the stirring fan being arranged on the lower lid 3 side within the casing 6, whereby the cooling to a temperature range of 100° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho
    Inventors: Tomomitsu Nakai, Makoto Yoneda, Shigeo Kofune, Takao Fujikawa
  • Patent number: 7008210
    Abstract: A treatment chamber for heating and pressing workpieces and a heat insulating structure which covers the treatment chamber sideways and from above are provided within a high-pressure vessel. Below the treatment chamber are disposed a base heater for heating a pressure medium gas and a fan for supplying the pressure medium gas in a heated state into the treatment chamber and stirring the heated gas. The workpieces can be held on the heat insulating structure side, and the heat insulating structure and the workpieces can be taken out from the interior of the high-pressure vessel and can be conveyed together separately from a lower lid of the high-pressure vessel. A hot isostatic pressing apparatus is provided less expensively which can heat and press workpieces at a relatively low temperature of not higher than 600° C. Besides, it is possible to shorten the cycle time in HIP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho
    Inventors: Yasuo Manabe, Shigeo Kofune, Makoto Yoneda, Takao Fujikawa
  • Patent number: 6767206
    Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement and method for heating gases in a gas circulation duct in connection with continuously operated sintering. In the sintering furnace, hot gas is fed in from above the belt in order to sinter the material located on the belt, and part of the gas circulation duct is formed as a burning zone, a burner ring, where the gas is heated. The burner ring comprises at least one burner unit directed inwardly from the circumference of the gas circulation duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Outokumpu Oyj
    Inventors: Pekka Niemela, Eero Väänänen, Jouko Pirttimaa, Olavi Tulkki
  • Patent number: 6718965
    Abstract: Disclosed is a convection oven capable of producing a “true” convection cooking environment with a single gas burner disposed underneath the oven bottom in a combustion box. A fan compartment is disposed substantially at the center of the back wall, and defined by a baffle plate with a central fan inlet, a plurality of rearward-extending flanges, and a portion of the oven back wall. A centrifugal fan is disposed within the fan compartment. A flue spout is disposed between the oven cavity and the fan compartment and is adapted to join the combustion box and the oven cavity in fluid communication. Thus the centrifugal fan, located substantially centrally within the fan compartment will draw hot air and flue products upward from the combustion box, through the flue spout, through the central fan inlet, and blow the hot air and flue products into the oven cavity through peripheral fan outlets formed in the fan compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Dynamic Cooking Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Randy L. Rummel, Eric H. Y. Deng
  • Patent number: 6715662
    Abstract: A continuous controlled atmosphere brazing system includes a dry-off oven for driving off moisture from materials to be brazed, a pre-heat section for pre-heating the material and a brazing furnace for brazing the materials. Heated gas produced in the pre-heat section and the brazing furnace is conveyed along a flowpath to the chamber of the dry-off oven to provide substantially the sole source of heat for the oven. The flowpath for the heated gas is defined by a series of tubes in communication with each component of the brazing system and intermediate manifolds disposed between components. The discharge mouths of the tubes open into the oven chamber at the suction side of recirculation fans operating within the oven. The overall temperature of the oven can be regulated by controllably mixing ambient air with the heated gas in relation to the oven temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Rogers Engineering & Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: William A. Rogers, Donald A. Marangoni, Steven G. Dennis
  • Patent number: 6648946
    Abstract: This invention is directed to a process for recovering helium. The process includes a) passing a first gas containing helium to an eductor to produce a second gas; b) passing the second gas through a heat exchanger to produce a third gas; and c) recovering the third gas into the eductor to combine with the first gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: James Joseph Volk
  • Patent number: 6609907
    Abstract: A combustion apparatus and process for improved flue gas recirculation wherein the recirculation line penetrates into an exhaust duct, such as the exhaust stack for capturing and directing a portion of said flue gas through the recirculation line which is connected to an air fan inlet which provides induction of the flue gas into the combustion unit. The portion of the recirculation line that extends into the exhaust stack is preferably aerodynamically configured to capture a portion of a flue gas stream without detrimental impedance of the gas flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: Entropy Technology and Environmental Consultants, LP
    Inventors: Stephen C. Wood, Ravindra K. Agrawal
  • Publication number: 20030140917
    Abstract: Disclosed is a convection oven capable of producing a “true” convection cooking environment with a single gas burner disposed underneath the oven bottom in a combustion box. A fan compartment is disposed substantially at the center of the back wall, and defined by a baffle plate with a central fan inlet, a plurality of rearward-extending flanges, and a portion of the oven back wall. A centrifugal fan is disposed within the fan compartment. A flue spout is disposed between the oven cavity and the fan compartment and is adapted to join the combustion box and the oven cavity in fluid communication. Thus the centrifugal fan, located substantially centrally within the fan compartment will draw hot air and flue products upward from the combustion box, through the flue spout, through the central fan inlet, and blow the hot air and flue products into the oven cavity through peripheral fan outlets formed in the fan compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: Randy L. Rummel, Eric H. Y. Deng
  • Patent number: 6530778
    Abstract: A condensation oven arranged to treat a workpiece including a casing having an internal structure defining a hermetic enclosure accessible via at least one door, a heater device operable to heat the internal structure to a predetermined temperature to enable a fraction of vapor obtained by vaporizing a heat transfer liquid to condense onto the workpiece, a vapor circulation system configured to circulate the vaporized liquid within the hermetic enclosure such that a fraction of the vapor condenses onto the workpiece, an extractor device operable to extract vapor within the hermetic enclosure of the oven, and a control unit configured to control the heater device and the extractor device when the at least one door is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Inventor: Jean-Paul Garidel
  • Patent number: 6514066
    Abstract: A device in hot isostatic pressing has first, second and third pumps. The first pump is adapted to pump a cooled pressure medium emanating from a cooling loop in the pressure vessel upwardly from a first space to a second pump which is arranged in a second space located above the first space but below a load space. The second pump is arranged to pump a mixture of the cooled pressure medium and a warm pressure medium emanating from the second space upwardly through the load space. The third pump is arranged in the second space to pump a warm pressure medium emanating from this space to the second pump for pumping the warm pressure medium by the second pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: Flow Holdings GmbH (SAGL) Limited Liability Company
    Inventor: Carl Bergman
  • Patent number: 6511300
    Abstract: An impeller arrangement in which adjacent blades (ventilating surfaces) are overlapped with each other as viewed in the axial direction is realized easily and cost-effectively even in a synthetic-resin-molded product. In an impeller for an axial flow type blower driven by an outer rotor type motor which is integrated to a rotatably supported shaft and a motor yoke to be rotated about the shaft around an outer side of a stator together with the motor yoke for ventilation, the impeller comprises a plurality of impellers (divided impellers, for example, a front side divided impeller and a rear side divided wheel), so that each of the divided impellers can be molded by a simple molding method using axially coupled type metal dies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shuichi Otsuka
  • Patent number: 6328561
    Abstract: A furnace includes a core tube that has an elongate boundary wall and is configured to accommodate wafers for processing the wafers in a treatment atmosphere. The furnace includes a cooling chamber defined between the elongate boundary wall and an outer casing of the furnace, wherein the outer casing includes a heating element and has first lateral, circumferentially spaced openings in proximity of a first end of the outer casing and second lateral, circumferentially spaced openings in proximity of a second end of the outer casing. Cooling gas is supplied through one of the first and second lateral, circumferentially spaced openings to a region of one end of the cooling chamber and provides for a cooling atmosphere. The cooling gas is guided along the cooling chamber with a uniform distribution of flow and discharged through one of the first and second lateral, circumferentially spaced openings from a region of an opposite end of the cooling chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: ASM International N.V.
    Inventors: Albert Hasper, Frank Huussen, Theodorus Gerardus Maria Oosterlaken, Jack Herman Van Putten
  • Patent number: 6311685
    Abstract: The heat exchanger is particularly for ovens for food cooking comprising a radial fan, and is associated with a burner supplied by a blower. The heat exchanger has a first part of pipe into which the combustion gases are made to flow, which makes an almost-complete circuit of the radial fan before bifurcating into at least two pipes which extend around the radial fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Angelo Po Grandi Cucine S.p.A.
    Inventors: Claudio Bassoli, Alessandro Soavi
  • Patent number: 6250907
    Abstract: A method of treating parts (34) in a treatment chamber (33) by hot-isostatic pressing with an inert gas as pressure medium and in the presence of a purifying agent (25a) for the inert gas comprises the steps of reducing the pressure in the treatment chamber (33), increasing the pressure again by introducing the inert gas, increasing the temperature in the treatment chamber (33) by activating heating elements (9a), and, after a certain holding time, reducing the pressure and the temperature again. Especially if the purifying agent (25a) is of the same material as the parts (34) being treated, the purifying effect of the purifying agent becomes insufficient. The effect of the purifying agent (25a) is improved according to the invention by bringing the inert gas, at least when being introduced, to circulate such that it is heated, passes through the purifying agent and is thereafter cooled before contacting the parts. The invention also relates to a device for carrying out the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Flow Holdings GmbH (SAGL), LLC
    Inventor: Carl Bergman
  • Patent number: 6138660
    Abstract: A forced convective track oven comprises a track conveyor including first and second circular spirals, the first circular spiral for conveying bakery trays and dough products upwardly and the second circular spiral portion for conveying bakery trays and dough products downwardly, thereby minimizing the number of changes of direction of the bakery trays as they travel along the track conveyor. A plurality of burners discharge heated air through discharge tubes and discharge nozzles into engagement with bakery trays carried by the track conveyor. First and second oval spirals may be used in lieu of the circular spirals when the track oven is used in a reduced ceiling height environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Sasib Bakery North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert W. Middleton, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6065463
    Abstract: A forced convective track oven comprises a track conveyor including first and second cylindrical spirals, the first cylindrical spiral for conveying bakery trays and dough products upwardly and the second spiral spiral portion for conveying bakery trays and dough products downwardly, thereby minimizing the number of changes of direction of the bakery trays as they travel along the track conveyor. A plurality of burners discharge heated air through discharge tubes and discharge nozzles into engagement with bakery trays carried by the track conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Assignee: Sasib Bakery North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Alan Martin
  • Patent number: 5951281
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a gas recirculating tubular heating equipment which improves the heat transfer performance, reduces a heat transfer area to approximately 1/2 or under of that of a prior art and is not limited to a certain type of available fuel. This equipment comprises: a furnace 1 having a plurality of tubes 19; heating chambers 2 provided with heat sources 3A and 3B for heating a recirculating gas current outside the furnace; and an out-of-furnace circulating path 4 for taking out a part of the recirculating gas current passing through the inside of the furnace 18 to the outside of the furnace and flowing it back from another position to the inside of the furnace 18.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Nippon Furnace Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Mamoru Matsuo
  • Patent number: 5795146
    Abstract: A furnace for thermally processing product includes one or more eductors. The eductor provides for increased circulation of atmosphere within the furnace for heat transfer or outgassing purposes. The eductor may be used to introduce clean gas to a product which outgasses volatiles to enhance the outgassing process by lowering the partial pressure of the volatile across the product as it is being heated. The eductor is also used to enhance heating or cooling of a product. Additionally, the eductor may be used to reduce or eliminate air stagnation areas within the furnace. The eductor may be located entirely within the furnace to recirculate the atmosphere of the furnace. Alternatively, the eductor may be located outside the furnace housing such that the eductor entrains gas from ports attached to the furnace and then reintroduces the gas into the furnace after the gas is cleaned, heated or cooled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: BTU International, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary A. Orbeck
  • Patent number: 5772429
    Abstract: A portable oven for simultaneous preparation of multiple floor tiles, providing an efficient means to heat the tiles so they are soft and can be cut to fit the area to be tiled, and preferably providing means to measure and cut the heated tiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Inventors: Michael James Fehrenbach, Carol Mawyer Fehrenbach
  • Patent number: 5744029
    Abstract: A chromatography oven is described to achieve faster cool-down rates and to preferably lower the temperature difference that can be maintained between the oven temperature and ambient temperature. The oven includes a suitable housing having front and rear walls and four side walls, a fan within the housing adjacent to the rear walls, an ambient air intake vent means in the rear wall, and an exhaust vent means within a rear corner of one of the side walls adjacent to the rear wall for exhausting the tangential flow of air created by the rotating fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Assignee: Varian Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth I. Li, Roger C. Tong
  • Patent number: 5683242
    Abstract: An oven for electronics manufacturing including a heated chamber having openings at each end to the ambient environment wherein heated air is circulated by a centrally located fan to pass over workpieces in a substantially upward (or downward) flow. Equal temperatures at the entrance and exit ends of the heated chamber are promoted by a crossover air return arrangement in which a portion of the air from each end of the heated chamber is mixed with the air from the other end of the chamber as the circulating air is drawn into the fan for recirculation. In addition, a moveable shutter mechanism is provided at the entrance end and exit end of the heated chamber to adjust the air flow at the ends of the heated chamber. The shutter mechanism operates to selectively close off an adjustable portion of the heated air flow at the ends of the heated chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Assignee: Circuit Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: John V. Cronin, Peter R. Rose, Mark A. Stroud, David M. Koistinen
  • Patent number: 5601070
    Abstract: A convection oven having an insulated oven chamber bounded by a front access door, a floor, a ceiling, two side walls, and a rear wall. An inlet air passageway, which includes a heating element, delivers heated air to the oven chamber, and an exhaust passageway exhausts air from the oven chamber. A baffle plate spaced from the rear wall divides the oven chamber into a blower compartment and a baking compartment, which are connected by a return air opening in the baffle plate and at least one peripheral opening outwards of the return air opening. A blower fan in the blower compartment draws heated air into the oven chamber, mixes the heated air with air already inside the even chamber, circulates the mixed air throughout the oven chamber, and expels air through the exhaust passageway. To alleviate problems caused by high and low pressure zones created in diagonally opposing corners of the blower compartment by rotation of the blower fan, two pairs of diverter plates are disposed around the blower fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1997
    Assignee: Middleby Marshall, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas C. Hotard, Robert D. Morrison
  • Patent number: 5568803
    Abstract: A gaseous fuel burner assembly for heating a space particularly an oven of a domestic cooking appliance comprises a gaseous fuel burner separated from the space by a baffle plate, and, also separated from the space by the baffle plate, a fan for withdrawing air from the space via an aperture or apertures in the plate and returning that air to the space via an exit or exits adjacent the edge of the plate, the or each aperture being so located that, during its passage from the aperture or apertures to the exit or exits, the air passes close to the burner. The fan may also draw in air from a plenum chamber behind the oven. The burner may be of the duplex variety and may have two independently controllable burner heads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1996
    Inventor: Geoffrey J. E. Brown
  • Patent number: 5222474
    Abstract: A gas fired convection cooking oven is provided with an improved air delivery and heat exchange structure for creating within the oven's cooking chamber a recirculating flow of heated air to cook food items supported therein. The structure includes a combustion box adapted to receive hot products of combustion from a gas burner, and extending into the cooking chamber through a lower portion of a vertical boundary wall thereof. Removably secured to the combustion box, and extending upwardly along the inner side of the boundary wall is a hollow baffle structure having a front mixing chamber communicating with the interior of the combustion box through spaced apart hollow legs with a discharge opening formed therebetween. Perforated skirt walls extending rearwardly from the mixing chamber define with the boundary wall a fan chamber which surrounds a motor-driven centrifugal fan impeller supported on the inner side of the boundary wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1993
    Assignee: Garland Commercial Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael V. Yencha, III
  • Patent number: H1197
    Abstract: Heat is used to decontaminate toxic agents from the interior contaminated rfaces of combat vehicles and like enclosures. The heat vaporizes the toxic agents, but does not cause heat damage to the interior contaminated surfaces themselves. Hoses are used to convey the heat to the toxic agent to vaporize the same, as well as to remove the vaporized toxic agent away from the interior contaminated surface for discharge outside the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1993
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: James F. Mank, Michael D. Milosh, Drew B. Farenwald