Abstract: A non-contact seal for thin film treating ovens to prevent leakage of gas both into and out of the oven at the film entry and exit points. An inert buffer gas is introduced into a narrow sealing slit defined between a pair of upper and lower sealing members adjacent the oven opening to buffer the oven gas leakage. An eductor passage also communicates with the sealing slit to carry away gas leakage resulting from thermal diffusion. Apparatus for precisely adjusting the height of the sealing slit to compensate for various film thicknesses and widths are provided. The temperature of the sealing members is regulated by the circulation of a fluid within passageways provided therein, thus to prevent thermal distortions of the slit defining surfaces.

Abstract: A sealing device for sealing the gap between two spaced, adjacent surfaces is disclosed. The device comprises an inflatable flexible hose disposed within the gap and which, when inflated, completely fills the gap to effect a seal. The hose may be secured to one of the surfaces and will, when evacuated, lie substantially flat against this surface in an unobtrusive position.

Abstract: In ovens which are divided by baffles to form zones, and through which conveyor belts pass, seals are positioned to prevent the flow of gases between zones. The seals are positioned between the baffle and the belt, and comprise a plurality of brushes extending from the baffle across the width of the belt and positioned so that at all times at least one of the brushes is in contact relationship with a non-foraminous portion of the belt.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for cooling heated metal items such as extrusion billets, and in particular billets of aluminum alloys is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a cooling chamber, means for transporting individual billets into and out of the cooling chamber, and inlet and outlet openings for the ingress and egress of a cooling medium from said chamber. A fan or the like is employed to produce a flow of air through the cooling chamber.

Abstract: The invention relates to a moving sealing device of the type comprising a chamber movable along a pre-determined path along a wall with which it is tightly connected on a closed contour, and means for providing an opening through the wall within said contour and for causing said opening to progress along the pre-determined path of the chamber simultaneously with the latter.

Abstract: An oven system useful for baking coatings on steel sheet and the like is disclosed. The system includes an oven through which material to be heated is conveyed. A hot air supply system provides substantially all of the heat requirements of the oven and air from the oven is passed into a fuel fired incinerator wherein incineration and heating of the air and combustion of any solvent present is effected. A regenerative heat interchange means such as a pebble bed regenerator is interposed between the exit of the incinerator and the hot air supply system and serves to effect of heating of the fresh air to provide at least a portion of the hot air for the hot air supply system using the heat content of the incinerated air from said incinerator.

Abstract: A first cylindrical drum member having an inlet portion for receiving materials to be treated, such as preheated coal and char includes a longitudinal axis and an outlet portion through which the treated materials are discharged into the inlet end portion of a second cylindrical drum member. The second drum member is independently supported for rotation relative to the first drum member and has a longitudinal axis coplanarly aligned with the longitudinal axis of the first drum member such that the drum members are concentrically positioned in tandem relative. A sealing assembly is connected to the first and second drum members for longitudinal movement with the drum members during expansion and contraction of the drum members as they are subjected to different temperatures.

Abstract: A door seal especially adapted to for use in a high temperature furnace wherein a sealing gas is controllably introduced between confronting surfaces of the door and the furnace to establish a gas barrier against leakage of cover gas from within the furnace chamber and leakage of air into the furnace chamber.

Abstract: A seal for permitting a wire to be fed through a wall separating regions at different pressures, e.g. into and out of a vacuum chamber for heat treatment or coating, comprises a pair of die-shaped elements of hard rigid material each having a bore for passage of the wire, these elements being spaced apart in a tube extending through said wall, means for pumping air from said tube, and an internal wire guide in said tube adjacent one of said holders and having an internal diameter decreasing towards that holder.

Abstract: An air seal having a flexible annular seal which fits around a cylindrical rotatable member and a flexible marginal portion which slidably interfits within an opening into a substantially closed chamber whereby both rotation and pivotal movement of the member is permitted without allowing flow of an substantial amount of air between the member and chamber.

Abstract: A muffle seal for a high temperature furnace in which a quartz or similar muffle is attached to an associated metal structure to provide substantial sealing of gas in the muffle even at extremely high operating temperatures. As employed in a multi-zone furnace having a high temperature quartz muffle section and a lower temperature metal muffle section joined thereto via a gas or gas and heat barrier, the quartz muffle is joined to the barrier by a peripheral chamber provided around the end of the quartz muffle confronting the barrier, the chamber being sealed to surfaces of the muffle and the barrier by porous gaskets. A sealing gas is introduced at above atmospheric pressure to the peripheral chamber, the gas being controllably transmitted through the porous gaskets to provide isolation against leakage of gas within the quartz muffle. The novel seal can also be employed to join quartz and metal muffle sections without a barrier therebetween.

Abstract: A tunnel autoclave having guillotine doors at opposite ends has sections of rail fixed to the said doors so as to be aligned with guide rails extending through the said autoclave when the doors are in the open position.

Abstract: Curable polyolefin insulating material covering an electric cable core is continuously cured as it is drawn through a horizontal curing tube constituted of a number of units each composed of heating and cooling zones and a seal portion provided to separate one unit from another, the curing tube being filled with a high-viscosity heat transfer liquid. At each seal portion, the heat transfer liquid is super-cooled and increases its viscosity enough to seal the clearance between the outer surface of the insulated cable core and the inner wall surface of the curing tube to support the cable core with the least dip. This apparatus can improve production efficiency, and the finished product is free of any eccentricity or distortion of its shape.

Abstract: A furnace for flux-free soldering of aluminum-containing workpieces in a controlled atmosphere has a furnace chamber through which workpieces to be soldered are made to travel. The furnace chamber itself is a gas-tight metallic muffle which is thermally insulated from the outer part of the furnace and has an inlet for the workpieces and an outlet for them. A first lock chamber is interposed between the furnace chamber and the inlet, and a second lock chamber is interposed between the outlet and the furnace chamber. Arrangements are provided for admitting vacuum and protective gas into the lock chambers, and protective gas into the muffle and a heating arrangement is provided for heating the controlled atmosphere in the muffle.

Abstract: Apparatus for a process of continuously casting metals by passing a metal core member upwardly through a container of molten metal, and thereby accreting and solidifying molten metal on the core member. The invention comprises an articulative sealing connection for adjoining a tiltable casting crucible in a continuous casting system with a fixed cooling chamber wherein the crucible top surface is in part spherical and slidable with respect to the tubular end section extending from the cooling chamber.

Abstract: A seal permitting wire, rod or the like to be fed continuously into a vacuum treatment chamber comprises two die-shaped elements conforming to the peripheral shape of the wire, rod or the like in spaced holders with a tube sealed between the holders and a removable insert in the tube externally fitting closely within the tube.

Abstract: A gas pressure bonding furnace having a convection shield with (1) monolithic tubular refractory insulation having its upper end surrounding the work receiving hot zone of the furnace and its lower end depending to a cool zone, (2) an impervious tubular metal shell surrounding the tubular insulation and holding it under compression by differential thermal expansion, (3) a cover closing the top of the shell by a gas tight gasket seal and (4) a piston actuated by the gas working pressure to hold the cover closed. In a preferred form, the insulation is cast in the shell and the composition is an alumina cement with embedded alumina balloons.

Abstract: A curing chamber has entry and exit ports for passing articles to be cured therethrough. Air curtains are provided at the inlet and exit ports. Communicating means connect the air curtains to a source for maintaining a pressure equilibrium at the air curtains. Means from outside the air curtains supply a controlled heated moist vapor for providing predetermined moisture to the air curtains to thereby reduce the escape of volatile gases within the curing chamber.