Abstract: A furnace system including an outer shell which comprises a top flange, an elongated body portion, and a bottom flange, wherein the outer shell is a pressure vessel, with no penetrations in the elongated body portion; a heater assembly which comprises (i) a single-piece annular shaped insulation layer, and (ii) a plurality of heaters embedded in the insulation layer, wherein the heater assembly is disposed within the elongated body portion of the outer shell; and an innermost layer disposed within the annular-shaped insulation layer, wherein the innermost layer is a baffle tube configured to force a natural convective flow, wherein each of the plurality of heaters is individually controllable and the plurality of heaters are configured to heat different zones within the furnace to different temperatures and/or at different rates. The system may be used to heat treat magnet materials, such as those formed of Bi-2212, therein.

Abstract: A lift dolly is comprised of a first castor-based platform and a second castor-based platform. Each platform is secured to an object to be lifted such that when so secured, the first platform extends diagonally upwardly and the second platform extends diagonally upwardly and terminates below the first platform. Downward articulation of the first platform causes lever lifting of its end of the object and also engages and causes downward articulation of the second platform which lever lifts its end of the object. Through continued lifting the lever fulcrum moves toward center increasing the mechanical advantage of the device.