Abstract: Steel sheets for hot stamping accommodated in a far-infrared radiation multi-stage type heating furnace are stably supported over a long period of time using steel sheet support members having a small projected area and inhibited from thermally deforming. The far-infrared radiation multi-stage type heating furnace includes: heating units and a ceiling unit arranged in a vertical direction with multiple stages to accommodate aluminum-coated steel sheets or zinc- coated steel sheets for hot stamping; and far-infrared radiation heaters disposed within the heating units and the ceiling unit to heat the steel sheets for hot stamping to a temperature ranging from the Ac3 transformation temperature to 950° C. Steel sheet support members are mounted to the heating units to support the steel sheets for hot stamping by point contact or line contact with the steel sheets for hot stamping.

Abstract: A motor driving device includes a mounting member including a mounting hole; a fan unit configured to be fixed to the mounting member, the fan unit including a lid disposed to cover the mounting hole; a restricting member configured to restrict movement of the lid by sandwiching the lid between the restricting member and the mounting member; and a guide mechanism configured to guide an operation of the restricting member moving relative to the lid from a non-restricting position where movement of the lid is allowed to a restricting position where movement of the lid is restricted.

Abstract: An apparatus for thermal processing of waste having organic and inorganic components comprises at least a treatment station, a cooling station and a treated material-removal station, and at least three crucibles. The treatment station is adapted to thermally treat the organic components and/or inorganic components located in a given one of the crucibles located at the treatment station. The so-treated components in this given crucible are adapted to then be cooled at the cooling station, before the treated components located in the given crucible are removed therefrom at the treated material-removal station. The three crucibles are mounted on a turntable so that the three crucibles are each at one of the stations, before synchronously all moving to each crucible's next station.

Abstract: Heat treatment equipment and a method of driving the same are provided. The heat treatment equipment includes: a process tube having an aperture at one side thereof; a sealing unit for opening or closing the aperture; and a pressure sensor for measuring sealing pressure between the sealing unit and the one side of the process tube. In the heat treatment equipment, the aperture of the process tube can be sealed according to the sealing pressure of the sealing unit so that the process tube can be precisely sealed.

Abstract: A slide arrangement for blocking or closing off a channel disposed between a coal pulverizer and coal dust burners, and conveying a gas having a high proportion of coal dust. The slide arrangement includes a housing disposed in the channel wall and a shroud or steel structure laterally connected to the housing. A passage for a slide plate is provided in a wall of the housing facing the shroud or steel structure. The passage can be closed off by a closure member except for a narrow gap. The closure member has a circumferential seal that rests against the rearward side of the housing wall. The closure member also has a wear plate that when the closure member is closed is flush with the inner side of the housing wall and forms a smooth passageway.

Abstract: An oven door latch system for a coke oven door positionable within an oven door opening and method of sealing a coke oven. The door latch system includes a rotary member rotatively attachable to the oven door. The rotary member has a wedge-shaped, arcuate engagement edge for variably engaging a striker plate on a buck stay member adjacent the oven door opening when the oven door is disposed in the opening of the oven. A tab member is also included on the rotary member. A remotely operated adjustment actuator is provided for engaging the tab member to rotate the rotary member in conjunction with an oven door opening or closing operation. Enhanced oven door sealing is provided by the rotary wedge latch system.

Abstract: A warp resistant fuel feed door assembly for use in injecting supplemental fuel into a high temperature combustion chamber such as a rotating cement kiln without substantial loss of heat or combustion gases. The apparatus, which is positioned on the exterior side of a fuel passage transecting the wall of a rotating kiln, opens to receive fuel and then seals during the balance of the rotation of the kiln. Warping, bearing fracture, shaft distortion and jamming due to exposure to extreme heat and cooling are minimized by the sectional construction of the doors. The door includes a plate positioned over the mouth of the passage, a plurality of support arms attached to the plate and a hinge shaft attached to the arms. Stresses on the door structure from inconsistent expansion of the plate are reduced due to symmetrically spaced oblong and oversized bolt attachment bores in the support arms. Synchronous opening of the feed doors is achieved by levered rotation of the hinge shafts by an electric motor.

Abstract: A fill door for use on the angled surfaces of furnace shells and chemical containers. The door (16) is pivotally coupled to a door frame (18) integral with the angled surface and includes a rim (26) that mates with a female channel (28) in the door (16). A U-shaped latch is pivotally connected to the frame (18) and includes a threaded spindle operatively connected to a crank. The surface of the door (16) includes a female sleeve having a bore for accommodating the end of the spindle when the latch is over the door (16) and the spindle is tightened into its closed and locked position. The door (16) further includes a cantilevered arm having an angled bore which allows it to swivel around a substantially vertical cylindrical post connected to frame. The arm and door swing in a substantially horizontal plane around the axis of the post.

Abstract: An apparatus for opening/closing a process chamber door of an oven for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes a boss formed at one side of an opening of the process chamber, a shaft which passes freely through the center of the boss, bearings attached to the process chamber and rotatably supporting the ends of the shaft, a driver for rotating the shaft in opposite directions over a predetermined angle, and a door that seals the opening, one side of the door being attached to the shaft so as to be moved when the shaft rotates. Alternatively, the present invention provides a pair of bearings disposed beside one side of an opening of the process chamber, a shaft whose ends are rotatably supported by the bearings, a bracket having one end fixed to the shaft, and another end fixed to the door. A driver also rotates the shaft over a predetermined angle that opens and closes the door.

Abstract: A cable system for raising and lowering a door of an industrial furnace utilizes a pair of vertically extending cables having lower ends connected to the door and upper ends connected to shaft-carried sheaves that are rotated concurrently to cause upper portions of the cables to be wound onto and off of the sheaves to raise and lower the furnace door to open and close a furnace opening defined in a vertical furnace face. The cables wind onto and off of sheave-defined tracks that are configured to cause lower portions of the cables to move the door a small distance horizontally during raising and lowering. This small distance horizontal movement capability may be utilized at the initiation of door raising to move the door away from the furnace face, and at the conclusion of door lowering to close the door against the furnace face to close the furnace opening.

Abstract: A guillotine-style door closure system for a furnace comprises a furnace opening with a door frame on a vertical side of the furnace; a furnace door adapted to mate with the frame; a left closing chain mounted, at one end, to the vertical side of the furnace approximate the left jamb and the lintel of the frame, and mounted, at its other end, to a left pin extending from the furnace door approximate the left vertical side of the door, below the vertical centerline of the door and distal from the rear vertical side of the door; and a right closing chain mounted, at one end, to the vertical side of the furnace approximate the right jamb and lintel of the frame, and mounted, at its other end, to a right pin extending from the furnace door approximate the right vertical side, below the vertical centerline and distal from the rear vertical side of the door.

Abstract: A door assembly for an air lock of a waste processing system comprising a vertical sliding door member having a perimeter entirely supported when the sliding door member is in a closed position and is sealed by a selectively inflatable gasket assembly located along the perimeter. The sliding door member is supported by inner and outer panels separated by a rectangular spacer gasket, wherein the inner and outer panels each contain a rectangular opening having a perimeter for receiving the inflatable gasket assembly. The inflatable gasket assembly includes a retainer frame and a rectangular inflatable seal element. The door assembly is opened and closed by including a pair of vertical tracks located between the inner and outer panels for receiving vertically extending ribs from the sliding door member.

Abstract: A remotely operable vessel cover assembly used with a vessel. The cover assembly has a mounting rim secured to the vessel surrounding a circular opening and a circular cover to fit against the mounting rim. A force ring having a plurality of openings is attached to the cover. Connector pins are attached to and extend from the mounting rim and through a plurality of holes in the cover and the force ring. A lock ring is rotatably attached to the force ring and locks the extending heads of the connector pins to the force ring to restrain the cover in an initial position. A force actuator, disposed between the force ring and the cover, expands under fluid pressure to react against the cover forcing the cover against the mounting rim. Upper and lower ramps are connected to the periphery of the cover and a ramp ring respectively. The ramp ring, rotatably supported between the force ring and the cover, has lower ramps positioned to match upper ramps on the cover.

Abstract: A safety door for a furnace or like apparatus is operable to open under the force of a hydraulic cylinder when the pressure under the furnace exceeds a predetermined upper limit corresponding to an abnormally high pressure caused by an explosion within the furnace or like apparatus. The safety door thereby prevents the furnace from being permanently damaged by an explosion.

Abstract: A fireplace screen arrangement is disclosed which includes a frame upon which a pair of mesh screen doors are pivotally mounted for movement between closed and open positions with respect to the fireplace. A damper assembly is provided for regulating the amount of air which is admitted to the fireplace through the screen arrangement. In order to provide convenient opening of the screen doors, a door-opening mechanism is provided which includes a door-engaging lever fulcrummed for pivoting movement with respect to the frame. An operating knob is operatively connected with the door-engaging lever so that inward movement of the knob moves the screen doors from their closed position. In the preferred embodiment, the operating knob is operatively connected with a movable damper plate for moving the damper plate laterally to regulate air admitted through the damper assembly.

Abstract: A closure arrangement for an incinerator or cremator in which the door and the opening in the incinerator are complementary wedge-shapes is described. The door can be automatically lowered by a hydraulic actuator to close the opening by a wedging action in the vertical direction. The seal is enhanced by a sealing strip fastened around the periphery of the door which is compressed between the door and the opening when the door is closed. A hinge is connected between the door and the actuator which allows it to move laterally as well as vertically so that it can fit snugly into the opening. The door can also be raised to close the opening. In the case of large heavy doors the hinge can be omitted and the door may be raised or lowered using guides.

Abstract: A grain drier system is disclosed which includes means for collecting heated air which has passed through grain and conducting it to the inlet of the burners which supply the heated gas to dry the grain. The collected air is introduced into the inlet of the burner at the periphery of the air stream to the burner in an area where the contact between the collected air and the flame of the burner is minimized. This procedure enables the heat of the collected air to be utilized without the likelihood of subjecting any entrained material to the action of the flame of the burner.In order to further minimize the possibility of fire, prior to being conducted to the burner, the collected air is passed into a plenum where the velocity of the stream of collected air is decreased and its direction of movement changed so that a substantial portion of entrained dust and organic material is caused to fall out of the air stream.

Abstract: A jacketed wood burning stove of the type having an inner firebox door and an outer jacket door in front of the firebox door and wherein a flash inhibitor is provided consisting of a relatively small auxiliary firebox door which is manually biased open but is held closed by an engaging bracket on the outer jacket door when the outer jacket door is closed.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for closing bottom-entry slab furnaces in which a door is pivotably connected to the slab elevator by a horizontally arranged hinge. The door is provided with a cam follower that cooperates with a cam apparatus to controllably swing the door between closed and open positions as the door is moved vertically past the cam apparatus.

Abstract: A slot furnace has a radiation resistant door which can easily be opened and closed as necessary during operation. The door is mounted on a pivot so that an end thereof covered with heat resistant insulation can be pivoted to open and close the slot when desired, to allow ease of feeding and removing materials from the furnace while preventing substantial radiational heat loss during normal operations.