Abstract: A strip curing oven apparatus for treating a workpiece carrying a coating containing a vaporizable solvent which is oxidizable to provide at least part of the heat requirement of said oven apparatus and which oven apparatus comprises an oven having a plurality of oven zones, such workpiece being movable through said oven zones in sequence, radiant header means disposed within one said oven zone so as to radiate heat toward a workpiece moving through that oven zone, incinerator means for incinerating oven gases to oxidize solvent vapors contained therein and to discharge such gases, after incineration, at an elevated temperature and with a reduced solvent vapor content, into said radiant header means, first gas-transferring means for transferring oven gases containing untreated solvent vapors from at least one of said oven zones to said incinerator means, oven gas circulation means located in said oven zone containing said radiant header means for circulating oven gases for passage between said radiant header

Abstract: A method of curing a solvent based coating on a strip comprising passing the strip through oven zones, circulating hot gases in the zones to vaporize solvents and entrain them in such gases and cure the coatings, the solvents being released in high volume one zone, and in low volume in another zone, incinerating some of the gases in the zones to oxidize solvent vapors and returning them to the zones, extracting some solvent-rich gases without incineration from the high release zone and distributing them to other zones, incinerating the solvent-rich gases as they are introduced into the other zones to oxidize solvent vapors and discharge high temperature combustion gases in the zones supplying some heat for the zones and reducing solvent vapors, extracting some of the gases from some zones and introducing them into the high solvent release zone to partially replace the gases transferred, the balance being made up by upstream migration of zone gases within said oven, and exhausting some gases to atmosphere.

Abstract: A method for drying or curing a coating on a strip passing through an oven having a number of oven zones comprises continuously moving such a strip sequentially through the oven zones, in each of which oven gases are continuously circulated about the strip to entrain vaporized solvent. Solvent-carrying gases are then removed from at least one such oven zone and transferred untreated to a solvent incinerator disposed essentially at a different one of such oven zones and in which they are incinerated to oxidize the solvent vapors contained in such gases. After incineration, the gases are discharged at an elevated temperature and with a reduced solvent vapor content into such a different one of the oven zones so as then to mix with the oven gases circulating in that zone so as in turn to maintain a stable solvent vapor content and operating temperature in that zone.

Abstract: An oven roof or wall is formed from modular panels, each of which comprises an inner fabric and an outer fabric. Each such fabric is formed with an angle iron framework and somewhat resilient tie-bars or welded at their ends to flanges of the angle irons to maintain the inner and outer frameworks in spaced disposition while minimizing heat transfer by conduction and permitting some degree of relative movement on expansion and contraction of the module components. Suitable thermal insulation is provided within the module. Panels or skins are secured to the fabric frameworks and each such skin is secured to a framework and projects laterally so as slidingly to overlie the adjacent frame member of an adjacent panel in turn to permit relative movement during expansion and contraction.

Abstract: A coating containing a vaporizable solvent on a strip passing through an oven apparatus is dried or cured at least in part by means of a radiant heater disposed within such an oven apparatus. Solvent-carrying gases are removed from the oven and incinerated to oxidize the solvent vapors contained therein and to provide gases at an elevated temperature and with a reduced solvent vapor content. Such heated gases are then passed through the radiant heater which receives heat from such gases and radiates heat toward the strip. Optionally, openings are provided in the radiant heater to allow for the flow of hot gases from within the radiant heater through such openings for impingement on and direct heating of the strip.

Abstract: A method of heat treating a workpiece, and an oven for carrying out the method in which, the gaseous atmosphere within each zone is continuously recirculated by recirculating fan and duct systems within each zone, and directed onto the workpiece, thereby losing heat to the workpiece, and coating thereon. A substantial proportion of the oven atmosphere containing solvent vapors is continuously passed through individual zone incinerators located within each of the oven zones, thereby oxidizing the solvent vapor content of such portion. The incinerated proportion of gases is then re-mixed with the untreated gaseous atmosphere prior to entry to the recirculating fan and duct system thereby re-heating the gaseous atmosphere to a controlled elevated temperature.

Abstract: A solvent vapor collector is mounted on the upstream inlet end of an oven having a gas-circulating means and intended for curing a coating applied to a strip sheet metal at a coating station. The strip sheet metal may be hot and solvent vapors are evaporated at the coating station and from the strip as it passes from the coating station to the oven. Upper and lower plenums within a housing of the collector are supplied with oven gases or air from the gas-circulating means and such gases or air are discharged within the collector obliquely in a downstream direction against the strip passing through that collector to establish downstream gas flows along the top and under surfaces of the strip so as, in turn, to induct solvent vapors into the collector at the coating station.