Crucible Or Furnace Type (i.e., Adapted To Hold Meltable Material) Patents (Class 219/420)
  • Patent number: 10948235
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sintering furnace for components made of a sintered material, in particular for dental components, comprising a furnace chamber having a chamber volume (VK) and a chamber inner surface (OK), wherein a heat-up device, a receiving space having a gross volume (VB) located in the chamber volume (VK) and delimited by the heat-up device, and a useful region having a useful volume (VN) located in the gross volume (VB), are disposed in the furnace chamber. The furnace chamber has an outer wall consisting of a plurality of walls having a wall portion to be opened for introduction into the receiving space of a component to be sintered and having an object volume (VO). In the furnace chamber the heat-up device has a thermal radiator having a radiation field which radiator is disposed on at least one side of the receiving space. Said thermal radiator has a specific resistance of 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: DENTSPLY SIRONA Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Fornoff, Christian Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20150034624
    Abstract: An electric glass hot shop system is described herein that has at least one electrically powered heating unit (e.g., electric furnace, electric glory hole, electric pipe warmer, electric color box, electric annealer, electric crucible kiln) used in the processing of glass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: SPIRAL ARTS INC
    Inventors: Steven Thomas Gibbs, Fred Charles Metz
  • Patent number: 8796579
    Abstract: A flange (13) for use in direct resistance heating of a glass-carrying vessel (10), such as a finer, is provided. The flange comprises a plurality of electrically-conductive rings which include an innermost ring (140) which is joined to the vessel's exterior wall (12) during use of the flange and an outermost ring (150) which receives electrical current during use of the flange. The innermost ring (140) comprises a high-temperature metal which comprises at least 80% platinum and the outermost ring (150) comprises at least 99.0% nickel. This combination of materials both increases the reliability of the flange and reduces its cost. In certain embodiments, the flange can also include one or more rings (190) composed of a platinum-nickel alloy which has a lower thermal conductivity than platinum or nickel and thus can serve to reduce heat loss through the flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Lee Martin Adelsberg, Steven Roy Burdette, Joyce C Gillis Dunbar, James Patrick Murphy
  • Patent number: 8785820
    Abstract: A resonant power supply (900) for use with high inductive loads includes an input rectifier (903) and a switching inverter formed using a plurality of parallel connected half bridge networks for switching the voltage provided from the input rectifier (903). A transformer (927) is used whose primary is connected to the switching inverter and whose secondary is connected to load such as a crucible (931). A capacitor (929) is used in series with the primary of the transformer (927) for resonating the inductance in the secondary circuit at the frequency of the switching inverter to provide maximum power transfer to the crucible (931).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Leco Corporation
    Inventor: Ted Casper
  • Patent number: 8692161
    Abstract: An infrared firing furnace includes a case-integrated cooling system to provide high performance cooling as the first step in the cooling process. The cooling system includes a cooling manifold integrated into, and made from, the same case material as the adjacent firing zone. As the cooling system is made from the same material as the rest of the case, it can handle being exposed to higher temperatures. The cooling system is positioned such that the plane of its outlet is at a specific clearance level relative to the product passing underneath. High pressure cooling jets of air are directed downward toward the products as they pass under the cooling manifold in order to quickly bring the temperature of the products down from the much higher firing temperature, and minimize the dwell time of the product at the higher temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: BTU International, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy R Doherty, Derek J Butland
  • Publication number: 20130337396
    Abstract: A graphite crucible has a cylindrical body with an upper opening for receiving a sample for analysis and a disk-shaped pedestal base. The pedestal base includes a bottom surface with a centrally formed circular indentation. An inwardly projecting concave arcuate annular indentation extends between the body and pedestal base with a smoothly curved radius of curvature. The upper and lower walls of the arcuate indentation diverge outwardly at an angle of from about 56 to about 60°. The pedestal base includes a bottom surface with a centrally formed circular indentation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Inventors: Joshua N. Wetzel, Gordon C. Ford
  • Publication number: 20130026155
    Abstract: An infrared firing furnace includes a case-integrated cooling system to provide high performance cooling as the first step in the cooling process. The cooling system includes a cooling manifold integrated into, and made from, the same case material as the adjacent firing zone. As the cooling system is made from the same material as the rest of the case, it can handle being exposed to higher temperatures. The cooling system is positioned such that the plane of its outlet is at a specific clearance level relative to the product passing underneath. High pressure cooling jets of air are directed downward toward the products as they pass under the cooling manifold in order to quickly bring the temperature of the products down from the much higher firing temperature, and minimize the dwell time of the product at the higher temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Inventors: Timothy R. Doherty, Derek J. Butland
  • Publication number: 20120248087
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and devices for generating heat for building structures or otherwise through wind power. In one exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides a wind powered electric furnace. The wind powered electric furnace includes a turbine disposed within a cavity of a first housing. The first housing defines a plurality of intake airflow paths having a narrowing profile in the direction of the cavity. The turbine is connected to a shaft. The wind powered electric furnace further includes a generator drivably connected to the shaft. The generator is adapted to generate electricity during rotation of the shaft. The wind powered electric furnace further includes an electric heater electrically connected to the generator, wherein upon rotation of the shaft electricity generated by the generator is transmitted to the electric heater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2011
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Inventor: James Hagan
  • Patent number: 8274018
    Abstract: An apparatus for use in direct resistance heating of a molten glass-carrying vessel, such as a finer or connecting pipe, is provided. The apparatus comprises a flange comprises a plurality of electrically-conductive rings that include an inner ring joined to the vessel's exterior wall during use of the flange and an outer ring that receives electric current during use of the flange. The innermost ring comprises a high-temperature resistant metal preferably comprising at least 80% platinum, and the outermost ring preferably comprising at least 99.0% nickel. This combination of materials both increases the reliability of the flange and reduces its cost. Either one or both of the width or thickness of one or both of the inner or outer rings varies as a function of angular position relative to the vessel. The width and/or thickness of the inner and the outer rings with relation to each other produces a uniform current distribution in the flange and the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Gilbert De Angelis, Chunhong C. He, Weiwei Luo
  • Publication number: 20120121896
    Abstract: A process for metalizing a ceramic surface or attaching a ceramic to a metal is provided. The process may comprise: immersing the ceramic into an aluminum or aluminum alloy melt, making the ceramic move or stay still relative to the melt to adhere the melt to the ceramic; and then removing the ceramic from the melt to unaffectedly cool the film adhered thereto. The process can attach an aluminum or aluminum alloy thin film having a thickness of several to tens of micrometers on a ceramic surface. The thin film is formed by solidification, and does not have microscopic faults such as oxide film inclusions or pores, therefore having proper physical of mechanical properties of aluminum. Ceramics or a ceramic and a metal can be brazed via the surface metalizing film, the bonding strength of their interface can over the strength of aluminum itself. This invention discloses a process for metalizing the surface of a ceramic and a process for attaching a ceramic to a metal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: TSINGHUA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Xiaoshan Ning, Bo Wang, Sha Li, Guocai Li
  • Publication number: 20120111850
    Abstract: A resonant power supply (900) for use with high inductive loads includes an input rectifier (903) and a switching inverter formed using a plurality of parallel connected half bridge networks for switching the voltage provided from the input rectifier (903). A transformer (927) is used whose primary is connected to the switching inverter and whose secondary is connected to load such as a crucible (931). A capacitor (929) is used in series with the primary of the transformer (927) for resonating the inductance in the secondary circuit at the frequency of the switching inverter to provide maximum power transfer to the crucible (931).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Inventor: Ted Casper
  • Publication number: 20120037610
    Abstract: A ceramic firing furnace is provided. A uniform gas atmosphere is formed in the ceramic firing furnace to thus minimize a defective ceramic substrate when the ceramic substrate is fired. The ceramic firing furnace includes: a case having an internal space in which a shaped body is disposed; a heating element disposed in the interior of the case and radiating heat; and a plurality of air supply units fastened through the case such that the plurality of air supply units are rotatable by an external force, and supplying a gas to the internal space of the case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2011
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Inventors: Won Hee YOO, Byeung Gyu CHANG, Yun Hwi PARK
  • Patent number: 8084717
    Abstract: The suction ports of a hot air blowing heater are arranged in a zigzag shape crossing the direction of travel of a printed circuit board, and hot air discharge nozzles project from inside or alongside the suction ports. Accordingly, in the reflow furnace according to the present invention, hot air discharged from the hot air discharge nozzles does not collide with hot air sucked into the suction ports, and turbulence does not take place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Senju Metal Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Nakamura, Atsushi Obara
  • Patent number: 7988031
    Abstract: A reflow furnace using a conventional heater for blowing hot air has difficulty in reducing ?t and in stabilizing the oxygen concentration at a low level. In addition, it is difficult to uniformly discharge hot air from the discharge holes in a perforated plate of a conventional heater for blowing hot air. In a reflow furnace according to the present invention, the total area per unit area of discharge holes formed in a perforated plate in a heater for blowing hot air installed in a main heating zone is 1.5-5 times the total area per unit area of the discharge holes formed in a perforated plate of a heater for blowing hot air installed in a preheating zone. A heater for blowing hot air has a body divided into three chambers by partitions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Senju Metal Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Nakamura, Tomotake Kagaya, Tsutomu Hiyama
  • Publication number: 20110132892
    Abstract: A rotary-type furnace for conditioning preforms with a heating wheel at which several heating modules for heating one preform each are arranged, wherein the heating modules are each a heating chamber and a holding device for the preform. The furnace has a lifting device for lifting and lowering the holding device and/or the heating chamber to change between a loading or withdrawal position, in which the preform does not overlap with the heating chamber in the direction of its main axis, and a radiation position in which a section of the preform is arranged within the heating chamber, a particularly quick and reliable transfer from an infeed starwheel can be realized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Frank Winzinger, Christian Holzer, Wolfgang Schonberger, Konrad Senn, Andreas Wutz
  • Publication number: 20110090933
    Abstract: An electric glass hot shop system is described herein that has at least one electrically powered heating unit (e.g., electric furnace, electric glory hole, electric pipe warmer, electric color box, electric annealer, electric crucible kiln) used in the processing of glass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Inventors: Steven Thomas Gibbs, Fred Charles Metz
  • Patent number: 7922820
    Abstract: A heating crucible and a deposition apparatus are provided that have a uniform deposition rate and good reproducibility. The heating crucible of the deposition apparatus includes a titanium body with an internal cavity to contain a material to be deposited and an opening to emit the material to be deposited, a wire to heat the body, and an insulator to insulate the body from the wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Mobile Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seoung-Yoon Ryu, Kyong-Tac Yu, Sung-Rag Ma
  • Publication number: 20110019981
    Abstract: A rotary furnace (1) for the heat treatment of solids includes at least one rotary tube into which the solids are introduced and a first heater outside of the rotary tube that makes it possible to conduct a portion of the heat treatment in the absence of oxygen. A second heater for heating feedstock to improve heat treatment is formed by a second heating element (4, 4?, 4?) positioned above the feedstock when the furnace rotates and at least one deflector panel that surrounds the heating element (4, 4?, 4?) is provided on the side opposite to the feedstock (2) and arranged inside of the rotary tube. The rotary furnace is used to roast solid biomass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Applicant: IFP
    Inventors: Elena Sanz Garcia, Matthieu Rolland
  • Patent number: 7838802
    Abstract: The present invention provides a radiation apparatus with capability of preventing heat convection, which comprises a blackbody furnace having a cavity therein and an air pressure adjusting unit. The air pressure adjusting unit coupled to the blackbody furnace for adjusting the air pressure of the open end of the cavity according to the temperature difference between the cavity and the outside environment. By means of the design of the present invention, it is capable of preventing heat convection between the cavity and the outside environment by utilizing the air pressure adjusting unit for controlling the air pressure status around the open end of cavity such that the blackbody furnace is stable for services of calibrations and tests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Bor-Jiunn Wen, Hsin-Yi Ko
  • Publication number: 20100059499
    Abstract: Insert for electrical furnaces comprising an insulating shell and a coiled heater element, the heater element comprising element wire that consists of at least two sections that are interconnected via a bend of element wire in such a way that the bend and the sections mutually form a loop of element wire. A fastening member is fixedly anchored in the insulating shell and arranged in the area of the bend in such a way that the element wire in a section directly connected to the bend is prevented from expanding past the fastening member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2008
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Inventor: Thomas Lewin
  • Publication number: 20100015733
    Abstract: A method of monitoring a heat treatment of a microtechnological substrate includes placement of the substrate to be treated in a heating zone and applying a heat treatment to the substrate, under predetermined temperature conditions, while monitoring the change over the course of time in the vibratory state of the substrate, and detecting a fracture in the substrate by detecting a peak characteristic in the vibratory state over the course of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2007
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Inventor: Loïc Sanchez
  • Patent number: 7569799
    Abstract: A compound body comprises a steel base element on which is deposited a heater layer. The base element is made of a precipitation hardening steel. In the form of a manifold or material feed tube in a hot duct system, said base element comprises a round or convex surface receiving the heater layer. This heater layer is a compound layer having several strata and/or strata elements which are thick film pastes or sheets and in such form are consecutively deposited, dried and baked-on. The pre-compression generated in this process in the heater layer is increased in controlled manner by precipitation hardening the base element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Gunther GmbH & Co., Metallverarbeitung
    Inventors: Herbert Gunther, Christel Kretschmar, Uwe Partsch, Peter Otschik
  • Publication number: 20090134142
    Abstract: The suction ports of a hot air blowing heater are arranged in a zigzag shape crossing the direction of travel of a printed circuit board, and hot air discharge nozzles project from inside or alongside the suction ports. Accordingly, in the reflow furnace according to the present invention, hot air discharged from the hot air discharge nozzles does not collide with hot air sucked into the suction ports, and turbulence does not take place.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2005
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Applicant: Senju Metal Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Nakamura, Atsushi Obara
  • Publication number: 20090020519
    Abstract: A method of and an arrangement for transmitting electric current to a furnace that is heated, either completely or partially, by electric current conducted in the furnace wall. The current is conducted through electrically conductive devices connected to the furnace wall. At least one of the devices in proximity to the furnace wall includes a section that has a smaller cross-sectional area than the remainder of the device. The current flow through the smaller cross-section develops heat in the region of the smaller section of a magnitude that corresponds substantially to the heat magnitude that would have been conducted from the furnace wall to the electrically conductive device in the absence of the smaller cross-sectional area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2003
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Applicant: SANDVIK INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY HB
    Inventor: Thomas Lewin
  • Patent number: 7446281
    Abstract: A fusing device (23) has heat reflectors (238) and (239) positioned in consideration of the fact that convective heat loss from respective outer surfaces of the heat reflectors (238) and (239) depends on orientation of the outer surfaces. More specifically, each of the heat reflectors (238) and (239) are positioned so as to have a convective heat transfer coefficient ? of up to 0.9. The convective heat transfer coefficient ? is given by the following expression: ?=(Su+0.77Sh+0.54Sd)/(Su+Sh+Sd), were Su is a projected area of an outer surface of each of the heat reflectors on an upper horizontal plane, Sh is a projected area of the same on a vertical plane, and Sd is a projected area of the same on a lower horizontal plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiaki Kagawa, Hiroshi Kida, Takashi Yamanaka, Tetsunori Mitsuoka
  • Patent number: 7423242
    Abstract: Oven for non-metal melting, in particular silicon melting, with a housing enclosing an interior, at least one mould arranged in the interior for receiving a non-metal melt, at least one electrical heating device enclosing, at least partially, the at least one mould for influencing the temperature of the non-metal melt, and a power supply device connected in an electrically conductive manner to the at least one heating device for providing the heating device with a time-variable current I(t), wherein the current I(t) has a frequency of 0.1 Hz to 1000 Hz and the current I(t) is of a magnitude sufficient for setting a predetermined temperature of the non-metal melt, the currents in the plurality, where necessary, of heaters having a defined phase position in respect of one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Deutsche Solar AG
    Inventors: Marc Dietrich, Bernhard Freudenberg, Armin Müller, Jens Seidel, Josef Stenzenberger
  • Publication number: 20070251937
    Abstract: Oven for non-metal melting, in particular silicon melting, with a housing enclosing an interior, at least one mould arranged in the interior for receiving a non-metal melt, at least one electrical heating device enclosing, at least partially, the at least one mould for influencing the temperature of the non-metal melt, and a power supply device connected in an electrically conductive manner to the at least one heating device for providing the heating device with a time-variable current I(t), wherein the current I(t) has a frequency of 0.1 Hz to 1000 Hz and the current I(t) is of a magnitude sufficient for setting a predetermined temperature of the non-metal melt, the currents in the plurality, where necessary, of heaters having a defined phase position in respect of one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Publication date: November 1, 2007
    Inventors: Marc Dietrich, Bernhard Freudenberg, Armin Muller, Jens Seidel, Josef Stenzenberger
  • Patent number: 7148450
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a portable blackbody furnace comprising a metallic body, a cylindrical cavity with a tapered end in the metallic body, a shielding plate positioned at an open end of the cylindrical cavity, at least a first heaters positioned in the shielding plate, a plurality of second heaters positioned around the metallic body, and a plurality of thermometers positioned in the metallic body. Preferably, the heat capacity of the metallic body is larger than 200 Joules/K, and has radial thickness larger than 5 mm. There are grooves formed on the outer wall of the metallic body, and the second heaters are heating wires embedded inside the grooves. In addition, the flow direction of the current between two adjacent heating wires is opposite to eliminate the magnetic field generated from the current flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: John Lin, Chau Min Chen, Chun Miing Hsu, Hui Mei Tai, Hsin Yi Ko, Chun Jen Lin, Chuen Yuann Liou
  • Patent number: 7020540
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for controlling temperature of a plant comprising plural temperature control zones, wherein an effective control parameter for a first zone for which a signal representing measured temperature is available is produced according to an algorithm relating measured temperature, a desired temperature and a control parameter associated with a device affecting temperature in the first temperature control zone, the effective control parameter is summed with an offset value representing a proportional offset of the effective control parameter of a second temperature control zone relative to the effective control parameter of the first temperature control zone and the result is applied to control a device affecting temperature in the second temperature control zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: D-M-E Company
    Inventors: Thomas Linehan, Fred Schroeder
  • Patent number: 6608856
    Abstract: A crucible melting furnace has a feature it has a high thermal efficiency and that differences in temperature does not substantially occur in a molten metal within a crucible and can provide products of uniform quality. Moreover, the crucible melting furnace has a feature it does not substantially damage the crucible, and can prolong the life (serviceable life) of the crucible. The furnace has the crucible 1, and the thermal flow guide 10, defined around the crucible 1, which guides the thermal flow heating the crucible 1. The thermal flow guide 10 has the guide (protruded streak) 3 which guides the thermal flow along the spiral path around the crucible 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Hokuriku Techno Company Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Tanaka, Masaaki Kikura
  • Patent number: 6159884
    Abstract: A method and crucible for annealing SiC at high temperatures. The crucible s a vessel having a peripheral wall, at least two compartments separated by an inner wall within the peripheral wall and a lid which separates the compartments from the crucible surroundings while providing a passageway between the compartments. The peripheral wall, inner wall and lid are composed of materials capable of withstanding annealing temperatures. The process disposes an SiC wafer in one of the compartments and SiC powder disposed in another of the compartments. The SiC powder is present to hinder SiC wafer decomposition during annealing of the SiC wafer. The crucible is then heated to a temperature sufficient anneal the SiC wafer, preferably after evacuating air and flowing an inert gas in and around the crucible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Joseph R. Flemish, Honghua Du
  • Patent number: 6160836
    Abstract: An electro-smokeless extraction/recovery system for converting shredded scrap tires to carbon black and steel and fluid discharge of oil, gas and solvent chemicals. A reaction vessel is formed with a side wall and a bottom plate. The bottom plate is provided with a plurality of heat apertures and a plurality of drain apertures. The vessel also has an open top for receipt of waste and shredded scrap tires. The lid is adapted to be removably placed over the top. A plurality of electrical heating elements are positioned through the bottom of the reaction vessel to heat the waste and shredded scrap tires within the vessel. A plurality of hollow drain members each have a side wall and a top with an open bottom positioned in sealing relationship with drain apertures. Vertically extending openings on at least a portion of a side wall extend upwardly from the bottom plate to a location adjacent to the top to effect the flow of fluid discharge from the reaction vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Inventor: Jack L. Hansen
  • Patent number: 6157004
    Abstract: A heating or preheating furnace for lining cylinders made of refractory material, where those cylinders are particularly designed to act as molds for the lost wax casting of precious metals, semiprecious metals, base metals or titanium or alloys thereof in order to obtain small items, dental prostheses, jewelry and costume jewelry items in general by precision casting. The furnace includes a bed, a hearth portion or base supporting the bed, an upper dome-shaped portion arranged to rest on the hearth portion to delimit a heating or firing chamber therewith, first driving means suitable for producing a relative motion between the dome-shaped portion and the hearth portion between a closed position, in which the dome-shaped portion rests on the hearth portion, and an open position, in which the dome-shaped portion is raised above the hearth portion, heating means carried by the dome-shaped portion, and a program control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Peacock Limited L.C.
    Inventor: Nickolas Bizzio
  • Patent number: 6125658
    Abstract: The invention relates to the electric melting technique, in which the melting energy is dissipated in the bath of melted glass as a result of the Joule effect by means of electrodes which dip through the surface of the bath. According to the invention, the electrodes dip into a bath of melted glass which has a height h below 800 mm and a surface S such that the ratio h/S is lower than 0.5 m/m.sup.2. According to another aspect, the exchange surface between the electrodes and the bath is above 0.075 m.sup.2 /m.sup.3 of glass.The invention is used in the manufacture of glass-based products, such as insulating materials based on glass fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: Isover Saint-Gobain
    Inventors: Stephane Maugendre, Tanguy Massart, Francois Szalata
  • Patent number: 5981900
    Abstract: A method and crucible for annealing SiC at high temperatures. The crucible is a vessel having a peripheral wall, at least two compartments separated by an inner wall within the peripheral wall and a lid which separates the compartments from the crucible surroundings while providing a passageway between the compartments. The peripheral wall, inner wall and lid are composed of materials capable of withstanding annealing temperatures. The process disposes an SiC wafer in one of the compartments and SiC powder disposed in another of the compartments. The SiC powder is present to hinder SiC wafer decomposition during annealing of the SiC wafer. The crucible is then heated to a temperature sufficient anneal the SiC wafer, preferably after evacuating air and flowing an inert gas in and around the crucible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Joseph R. Flemish, Honghua Du
  • Patent number: 5932294
    Abstract: A unibody, monolithic, one-piece negative draft crucible for a MBE effusion cell. The crucible maximizes capacity, uniformity and long term flux stability, and minimizes oval defects, depletion effects, and short term shutter-related flux transients. The invention also provides a method and mandrel apparatus for making a unibody containment structure, such as a crucible formed of PBN, having a negative draft, via chemical vapor deposition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Chorus Corporation
    Inventors: Paul E. Colombo, Robert F. Donadio
  • Patent number: 5887015
    Abstract: A heater mechanism for a crystal pulling apparatus is disclosed. Electrodes made of copper or the like and disposed under a heater are connected to the heater via graphite members. A cover member is attached to each graphite member, so that the downwardly extending portion of the cover member surrounds the outer surface of the graphite member. Accordingly, a leak or splash of a melt is prevented from contacting the electrodes. The length of each graphite member is equal to or greater than the distance between the bottom surface of the heater and the top surface of a melt spill tray which distance is measured when the heater mechanism is raised The cover member is vertically slidable along the outer surface of each graphite member. Thus, even when a material melt leaks out from a crucible, the electrodes of the heater mechanism can be protected from a fusion damage or the like which would be otherwise caused by the leak of the melt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: Shin-Etsu Handotai Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuaki Mitamura, Toshiharu Uesugi, Atsushi Iwasaki, Shinobu Takeyasu
  • Patent number: 5878074
    Abstract: A crucible is disclosed for use in coating a substrate with deposition materials by electron-beam evaporation. The crucible is configured to be inserted into an evaporator pot; it has a bottom and at least one sidewall extending upwardly from the bottom and terminating in a rim, such that the bottom and sidewall define a reservoir for containing the deposition material, and the rim defines a mouth out of which the deposition material may evaporate. A lip extends upwardly from a predetermined section of the rim which shields the spattering of deposition of material onto the evaporator pot during the evaporation process. A improved method is also disclosed for performing electron-beam evaporation with the present invention crucible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Barry S. Buchanan, Frances Deemer, Lloyd G. Walton
  • Patent number: 5827371
    Abstract: A unibody, monolithic, one-piece negative draft crucible for an MBE effusion source. The crucible maximizes capacity, uniformity and long term flux stability, and minimizes oval defects, depletion effects, and short term shutter-related flux transients. The invention also includes an effusion source employing such a crucible, as well as a method and mandrel apparatus for making a unibody containment structure, such as a crucible formed of PBN, having a negative draft, via chemical vapor deposition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Assignee: Chorus Corporation
    Inventors: Paul E. Colombo, Robert F. Donadio
  • Patent number: 5820681
    Abstract: A unibody, monolithic, one-piece negative draft crucible for a MBE effusion cell. The crucible maximizes capacity, uniformity and long term flux stability, and minimizes oval defects, depletion effects, and short term shutter-related flux transients. The invention also provides a method and mandrel apparatus for making a unibody containment structure, such as a crucible formed of PBN, having a negative draft, via chemical vapor deposition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Chorus Corporation
    Inventors: Paul E. Colombo, Robert F. Donadio
  • Patent number: 5792271
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system for supplying a high-pressure medium gas suitable for processing a semiconductor to be processed by heating under isostatic pressure in a short cycle.The system includes a gas holder containing a high-pressure medium gas, a compressor for pressurizing the high-pressure medium gas supplied from the gas holder, a high-pressure vessel having a heater, an accumulator for storing the high-pressure medium gas pressurized by the compressor, a first evacuation unit for evacuating the inside of a pipeline for the high-pressure medium gas, a vacuum casing for holding the opening of the high-pressure vessel in a vacuum, a second evacuation unit for evacuating the inside of the vacuum casing, and a valve unit for connecting the high-pressure vessel and the accumulator so that series connection and parallel connection can be switched on the outlet side of the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho, Nihon Shinku Gijutsu Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takao Fujikawa, Takahiko Ishii, Tomomitsu Nakai, Yoshihiko Sakashita
  • Patent number: 5660752
    Abstract: A heating element for heating crucibles, including a cylindrical hollow body which is divided by slits into meandrous segments. The corners between adjacent lateral surfaces of the meanders are rounded. Sectional transition areas are located in the vicinity of the upper and lower edges of the meandrous segments. Each sectional area has an outer rounded edge with a radius of curvature equal to the individual length of each meandrous section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1997
    Assignee: Wacker Siltronic Gesellschaft Fur Halbleitermaterialien Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Peter Vilzmann
  • Patent number: 5632918
    Abstract: A heat dissipating chimney in an apparatus for the melting and dispensing of solid and quasi-solid materials, such as thermoplastics and hot melt adhesives, is disclosed. Air convection paths are provided which control the flow of heated air from a plurality of heat sources, through the cabinet of the apparatus, eventually exhausting the heated air to atmosphere. Degradation of the performance of heat-sensitive components of the apparatus is avoided by the heat dissipating system provided by the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1997
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Jon C. Zook, Chris M. Jamison
  • Patent number: 5519189
    Abstract: A heating unit for heating a generally cylindrically-shaped drum of material to a selected safe temperature without endangering the contents of the drum due to overheating, such heating unit comprising a tub, liquid circulation components interconnected with the tub, and heating components for heating, to a selected temperature, the liquid to be circulated through the tub. The tub has relatively high sides and an interior portion configured to receive a drum therein, with the interior portion of the tub adapted to contain a number of gallons of liquid to be heated. The tub, liquid circulation components and heating components are interconnected such that the liquid circulation components can bring about a substantially continuous flow of heated liquid through the tub. The heating components have a thermostatically controlled heating element for heating the flowing liquid to a selected temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1996
    Inventor: Glenn J. Gibisch
  • Patent number: 5407523
    Abstract: An apparatus for gluing together first and second pieces of a foam pattern to be used in a lost foam casting process, the apparatus comprising a frame, a glue tank adapted to contain glue, a glue platen supported by the frame for vertical movement relative thereto, the glue platen being movable relative to the frame between a lower position submerged in the glue and an upper position raised above the glue, a center platen located above the glue platen to hold the first pattern piece, the center platen being supported by the frame for pivotal movement relative thereto about a generally horizontal axis, and a top platen for holding the second pattern piece located above the center platen, the top platen being supported by the frame for vertical movement relative thereto between upper and lower positions. While in one pivotable position, the foam piece held by the center platen faces downward and, in the other position, it faces upward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1995
    Assignee: Outboard Marine Corporation
    Inventors: Francis V. Bailey, Duane M. Scherbarth, Robert Mooney
  • Patent number: 5373807
    Abstract: A method for growing multiple high-purity single crystals from a replenished melt by maintaining the purity of molten source material in the melt held in a crucible in a furnace of the type used for growing high-purity single crystals. The method includes the steps of growing at least one crystal from the source material in the crucible, extracting a portion of a volume of the melt remaining in the crucible, adding high-purity source material to the melt, and growing at least one more single crystal. Extractor apparatus used in the method includes an insulated receptacle having an inlet tube for conducting molten source material into the receptacle. A vacuum attached to the receptacle is used to draw the source material into the receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1994
    Assignee: MEMC Electronic Materials, Inc.
    Inventor: John D. Holder
  • Patent number: 5315091
    Abstract: An electrical resistance heated oven is used to heat a crucible to melt a sample and to simultaneously heat a casting dish into which the molten sample can be poured. The oven is cooled with the crucible and casting dish within the oven in order to prepare a sample bead for analysis. In another embodiment of the invention the sample is again melted in a crucible and after melting the crucible is moved out of the oven and turned to pour the molten sample into an acid solution positioned external to the oven. The crucible and sample can be moved while in the oven to mix the sample. The method of preparing an analytical sample using the electrical resistance heated oven is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1994
    Assignee: Leco Corporation
    Inventors: Larry S. O'Brien, Gordon C. Ford, Peter M. Willis, Robert S. Tate
  • Patent number: 5313047
    Abstract: An interchangeable module for supporting a receptacle into which a molten sample, prepared by a fluxer, can be poured for analysis. One module can support a resistively heated casting dish into which a molten sample can be poured and cooled to form a solid sample for instrumental analysis. This module includes an insulator having a depression for receipt of a casting dish. A heating coil is positioned below the recession. A cooling gas conduit extends through the insulator support. The insulator is supported on a frame. The frame is supported on a back plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1994
    Assignee: Leco Corporation
    Inventors: Larry S. O'Brien, Gordon C. Ford, Peter M. Willis, Ronald A. Klemm
  • Patent number: 5239615
    Abstract: A system for transporting liquefied, highly viscous waterproofing membrane from a kettle where the membrane is heated and stored to a remote location. The system comprises a pump assembly for pumping membrane out of the kettle, a pipe assembly coupled with the pump assembly for providing a passageway along which the membrane may be transported from the pump assembly to an intermediate location, and a lugger for receiving membrane discharged from the pipe assembly and for transporting the membrane to the remote location. The pipe assembly and the lugger include heating devices for maintaining the temperature of membrane being transported thereby at a selected temperature, typically in the range of 375.degree. F. to 425.degree. F.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1993
    Assignee: Pacific Rainier Roofing, Inc.
    Inventors: Monty D. Moore, Dennis L. Moore
  • Patent number: 5093896
    Abstract: A system for transporting liquefield, highly viscous waterproofing membrane from a kettle where the membrane is heated and stored to a remote location. The system comprises a pump assembly for pumping membrane out of a kettle, a pipe assembly coupled with the pump assembly for providing a passageway along which the membrane may be transported from the pump assembly to an intermediate location, and a lugger for receiving membrane discharged from the pipe assembly and for transporting the membrane to the remote location. The pipe assembly and the lugger include heating devices for maintaining the temperature of membrane being transported thereby at a selected temperature, typically in the range of 375.degree. F. to 425.degree. F.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1992
    Assignee: Pacific Rainier Roofing, Inc.
    Inventors: Monty D. Moore, Dennis L. Moore