Abstract: Device for conducting chemical operations, comprising a working chamber (1) delimited by a top (2), a bottom (3), side walls (4, 5) and a door, a microwave energy generator (6) for the chamber, and a reactor (7) having at least one neck (8) and resting in the chamber on a support (9). The chamber (1) is pierced by at least one passage (12) which permits connecting the neck (8) of the reactor (7) with a connection conduit (13) secured to an external device for conducting a chemical reaction. The chamber is also pierced by two other passages (15 and 16) adapted respectively to permit the connection of two other necks (17 and 18) to the reactor (7).

Abstract: A microwave applicator including a generally cylindrical microwave containment chamber, a microwave energy source, and a feed structure connecting the microwave energy source to the containment chamber. The diameter of the containment chamber is designed according to a process that need only take into account supporting a microwave pattern having substantially only two transverse magnetic modes, each with a characteristic guide wavelength, where the guide wavelength of one mode is substantially equal to twice the guide wavelength of the other mode. Additionally, the interior diameter can be sized to minimize the index subscript numbers of the transverse magnetic modes. The feed structure of the applicator includes at least two feed apertures spaced physically apart around the cylindrical axis of the applicator by a physical angle equal to an electrical phase shift angle of the microwaves introduced through the respective apertures, which in a preferred embodiment is 90 degrees.

Abstract: A food covering device for use with a microwave oven. The microwave oven has a door hingedly attached thereto and an interior which is defined by a top, sides and a bottom. The device includes a cover having a top and side wall which defines an open interior. The cover is suspended within the oven enclosure by a cord which attaches to the cover at one end and to the door of the oven at the other end. The cover is actuated from a first suspended position within the oven enclosure to a second position overlaying the bottom of the oven enclosure when the door is closed. A height adjuster is provided for adjusting the extent which the cover is actuated from the first to the second position. The cover overlays an item of food placed upon the bottom of the microwave interior when it is desirable to heat the item. The cover may also be adjusted solely at the height adjuster without the opening and closing motion of the door.

Abstract: The tunnel oven comprises an elongated enclosure connected to an inlet closure and an outlet closure and traversed by a conveyor transporting the food to be cooked. The enclosure is delimited by a wall forming a floor, a wall forming a ceiling, and two side walls of which one is provided with a door giving access to the interior of the enclosure. The enclosure is divided into several successive cooking chambers separated from each other in the upper portion of the latter, each chamber being associated with several different heaters, including microwave heaters. The microwave heaters of each chamber comprise several sources provided with microwave emission members disposed in the wall forming the ceiling of the chamber such that one microwave emission member will be offset relative to a neighboring microwave emission member, in the direction of advance of the food.

Abstract: Sealable container assemblies include containers for materials which are to be microwave heated, such as in digesting or extracting operations, made of thermoplastic material, such as fluoropolymer, that is strengthened by reinforcing means that may be a fiber reinforced thermoplastic of high tensile strength, such as polyetherimide, with reinforcing continuous fibers in a matrix of such thermoplastic, which fibers are very preferably in the shape of a sleeve or sleeves and are of glass or other heat resistant and microwave transmissive material. The containers may be strengthened by incorporating the fiber reinforced thermoplastic in a wall or walls of the container or preferably by inserting the container into a reinforcement, which is a sleeve or collar of the reinforced thermoplastic. In both such constructions the reinforcing means protects the container against radial failure due to pressure that is generated by the microwave heating of the container contents.

Abstract: A method for the heating of beverages or foodstuffs in fluid form contained in a package or container which is placed in a microwave oven whose cavity is adapted as to the dimensions and shape of the package or container. When the target temperature of the beverage or foodstuff is reached, heating is ceased. A microwave oven for such heating includes a package-adapted cavity and control means for ceasing heating when the target temperature is reached, which can be sensed by incorporated means for sensing moisture release, IR radiation from the beverage or foodstuff or means for sensing its light permeability.

Abstract: Superior microwave transparent thermal insulations for high temperature microwave sintering operations were prepared. One embodiment of the thermal insulation comprises granules of boron nitride coated with a very thin layer of glassy carbon made by preparing a glassy carbon precursor and blending it with boron nitride powder to form a mixture. The blended mixture is granulated to form a grit which is dried and heated to form the granules of boron nitride coated with a glassy carbon. Alternatively, grains of glassy carbon are coated with boron nitride by blending a mixture of a slurry comprising boron nitride, boric acid binder, and methyl alcohol with glassy carbon grains to form a blended mixture. The blended mixture is dried to form grains of glassy carbon coated with boron nitride. In addition, a physical mixture of boron nitride powder and glassy carbon grains has also been shown to be an excellent thermal insulation material for microwave processing and sintering.

Abstract: A partitioning plate having a configuration which can be inserted into a double wall vacuum container from an opening of vacuum container divides the space of the vacuum container into two spaces. One of the spaces which serves as a heating chamber, is opened and closed by a door. The other space, which serves as a mechanical chamber, accommodates electrical parts. A method for fixing the partitioning plate, on which parts have been installed, to the double vacuum container is faciliated by the provision of a device for regulating the position of the partitioning plate.

Abstract: Containers for materials which are to be microwave heated such as in digesting or extracting operations, are made of thermoplastic material, such as a fluoropolymer, e.g., TEFLON.RTM. PFA, that is strengthened by reinforcing means that may be a fiber reinforced thermoplastic of high tensile strength, such as polyetherimide, e.g., ULTEM.RTM., with reinforcing continuous fibers in a matrix of such thermoplastic, which fibers are preferably of glass or other heat resistant and microwave transmissive material. The containers may be strengthened by incorporating the fiber reinforced thermoplastic in a wall or walls of the container or by inserting the container into a reinforcement, which is a sleeve or collar of the reinforced thermoplastic. In both such constructions the reinforcing means protects the container against peripheral or radial failure due to pressure that is generated by the microwave heating of the container contents.

Abstract: A microwave oven, in particular for rapid heating to high temperature, is disclosed. A cylindrical metal housing is open at one end and has a cylindrical side wall, into which a waveguide opens, the waveguide being coupled to a microwave generator. A first outer layer of a thermally insulative, microwave-transparent material and a second inner layer thereof are provided in a coaxial configuration. A metal sleeve provided with plural coupling slots is interposed between the outer and inner layers. A muff of a microwave-absorbing material is received within a central opening of the inner layer and constitutes a heating enclosure. A metal plate fitted with an access door is provided for closing the open end of the housing. An infrared pyrometer or a thermocouple may be provided for measuring temperatures in the heating enclosure. The heating enclosure may have a vent for evacuating fumes and an orifice for injecting gases.

Abstract: Microwave heating is used to desorb successive batches of contaminated adsorbent. The apparatus includes first and second stations and an adsorbent carrier tray displaceable between the two stations. Adsorbent is loaded and unloaded from the tray in the first station and heated with microwave energy in the second station. The tray is loaded by passage under a feed hopper, thereby providing an even bed of adsorbent in the tray. Unloading is performed by rotating the tray to an inverted position so that the adsorbent falls into a bin below. The second station includes an oven chamber which is swept with a purge gas to remove gaseous sorbates desorbed from the adsorbent. The tray can include a gas-permeable adsorbent support structure to facilitate passing purge gas and gasification reactants through the adsorbent bed.

Abstract: A unit is suitable for storing and carrying food, and includes a microwave unit therein. The microwave unit is used to heat food and includes a power cord that can be attached to a source of utility power or to a battery. The unit can also include batteries.

Abstract: A high speed microwave high temperature oven system mounts an enclosed furnace in its cavity and extends a temperature probe therein. A controller regulates the furnace temperature by periodically interrupting over a range, the operation of the magnetron as the furnace or actual temperature approaches the setpoint. It interrupts the operation of the magnetron for longer periods of time as the actual temperature nears the setpoint. If the actual temperature exceeds the setpoint, the operation of the magnetron is interrupted for even longer periods of time. The controller at a selected furnace temperature also activates an exhaust function to remove hot air, smoke and fumes from and draw clean air into the furnace. As the actual temperature lowers towards the setpoint, the controller shortens the period of magnetron operation interruption. When the furnace temperature cools to a safe temperature, the controller shuts off the exhaust function.

Abstract: There is provided a microwave oven using as walls of its internal chamber a precoated sheet steel which has no harmful effect on food sanitation. The precoated sheet steel includes a comprised a sheet steel, a strontium chromate primer having strontium chromate dispersion-mixed with a resin and being applied to one side of the sheet steel, a paint applied over the strontium chromate primer, and a paint applied over the other side of the sheet steel. The one side of the precoated sheet steel constitutes exterior surfaces of the walls of the internal chamber and the other side of the precoated sheet steel constitutes interior surfaces of the walls of the internal chamber. A molybdenum primer comprising molybdenum pigment dispersion-mixed with a resin may be applied to both sides of the sheet steel instead of the strontium chromate primer.

Abstract: A DC power source constituted by a power generator (20), a dynamo (22) and a rectification means (23), an inverter power source (24) which boosts an output of the DC power source so as to drive a magnetron (28) and an inverter controller for controlling the inverter power source (24) by an output of a generated electric power output detecting means (31) for detecting the output of the DC power source are provided, whereby a required dielectric heating function can be stably achieved by controlling an operational state of the inverter power source (24) by the output of the DC power source.

Abstract: A microwave oven includes a cooking chamber having a door. A tray is mounted in the chamber by a roller/guide track arrangement such that gravitational force acting on the tray is converted into a force which slides the tray forwardly when the door is opened.

Abstract: Waveguide adapted to be mounted on the wall 1 of a cooking chamber between the antenna 2 of a magnetron 3 and an opening 5 provided in the wall 1, and comprising a metallic housing of generally tubular shape formed from a cover 7 comprising an upper elongated wall 8 of which a forward region extends above the wall 1 and of which a rear region extends above the magnetron 3, two side walls 9 and 10, two transverse forward 11 and rear 12 walls, and a base 13 comprising a bottom wall 14 traversed by a hole 16 for passage of the antenna 2 and opening opposite the opening 5. The cover 7 is formed from a single piece obtained by stamping and bending a metal sheet. The invention is applicable to microwave ovens for household use.

Abstract: A single use combined shipping display and cooking microwave package is provided for heating a plurality of food pieces in a microwave oven. The packaging includes a microwave transparent enclosure which has a top panel and a bottom panel. Located adjacent to and generally coextensive with the bottom panel is a microwave susceptor. Preferably this microwave susceptor is a thin film susceptor. A spacer overlays the thin film susceptor and is also generally coextensive with the bottom panel. The spacer is adapted to hold the food pieces a predetermined distance away from this susceptor. In addition, the spacer has a plurality of apertures therein which allows the heat from the microwave susceptor to pass through to the food pieces. A similar arrangement is applicable to the top panel. A top panel microwave susceptor is located adjacent to and generally coextensive with the top panel and a top panel spacer is located adjacent to the top panel susceptor and generally coextensive with the top panel.

Abstract: A plurality of samples in a moist medium are treated simultaneously in a microwave cavity. The samples are conducted into the cavity through apertures formed in an upper wall of the cavity. Each aperture is surrounded by a chimney configured to create a barrier opposing the propagation of microwaves from the cavity. The samples are introduced into receptacles which extend through the chimneys. Each receptacle can be supported on the chimney a lower end of the receptacle disposed within the cavity. Alternatively, the receptacles can be in the form of continuous tubes extending through upper and lower walls of the cavity in order to convey continuous flows of the sample.

Abstract: An insert formed of a polymeric microwave transmissible material is arranged for complementary reception with the microwave oven cavity permitting ease of removal of the insert relative to the cavity for enhanced ease of cleaning of the insert relative to and subsequent a microwave oven cooking procedure.