Diverse Atmospheres (e.g., Directly And Indirectly Heated, Etc.) Patents (Class 432/171)
  • Patent number: 12044244
    Abstract: A ceiling fan or ceiling fan assembly can include a motor to rotatably drive a set of fan blades. The set of fan blades are attached to the motor via a blade iron, which mounts the blades to a rotating rotor of the motor. A grommet is provided within holes of the blades, between the blade and a fastener, to reduce vibration and improve dampening at the junction between the blades and the motor. Multiple flanges are formed at the end of each grommet. The multiple flanges provide for improved compressibility to improve ease of installation, which resisting sliding of the grommet from the holes in the blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Hunter Fan Company
    Inventors: Douglas Troy Mason, Bobby Neal Norwood
  • Patent number: 6971571
    Abstract: A bath apparatus 12 reserves a liquid 13 as a heating medium and includes an input partition bath 31, a first intermediate partition bath 32, a heat partition bath 33, a second intermediate partition bath 34 and a removing partition bath 35 that are divided by gates 21 through 24 and sequentially arranged in a direction in which a printed board assembly where components are loaded onto a printed board moves. The temperatures of liquids 13-31 and 13-32 in the input partition bath 31 and the first partition bath 32 are a preheating temperature. The temperature of a liquid 13-33 in the heat partition bath 33 is a soldering temperature. The gate 21 is gradually opened while the printed board assembly 11 is located in the first intermediate partition bath 32 and before the printed board assembly 11 is conveyed into the heat partition bath 33.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Naoaki Nakamura, Osamu Higashi
  • Patent number: 6910522
    Abstract: A system and method for heat treating castings and removing sand cores therefrom. The castings are initially located in indexed positions with their x, y, and z coordinates known. The castings are passed through a heat treatment station typically having a series of nozzles mounted in preset positions corresponding to the known indexed positions of the castings passing through the heat treatment station. The nozzles apply fluid to the castings for heat treating the castings and degrading the sand cores for removal from the castings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Consolidated Engineering Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott P. Crafton, Paul M. Crafton, Volker R. Knobloch, James L. Lewis, Jr., Ian French, Franz Ruegg
  • Patent number: 6887074
    Abstract: A continuous production vacuum sintering apparatus has a conveyer unit and a plurality of vacuum sintering systems individually transferred by the conveyer unit. Each of the vacuum sintering systems includes a sintering furnace, a vacuum control unit communicating with the sintering furnace via an exhaustion valve, a temperature control unit electrically connecting the sintering furnace, and a partition disposed in the sintering furnace and adjacent to the exhaustion valve. The vacuum sintering systems correspond to respective sintering steps, each of which continues from a previous one with a predetermined period. The vacuum sintering systems are separate from one another. The respective pressure and temperature conditions provided by the corresponding vacuum sintering systems do not interfere with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Teco Nanotech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chun-Yen Hsiao, Yu-An Li, Jin-Lung Tsai, Kuei-Wen Cheng
  • Patent number: 6814573
    Abstract: A vacuum heat-treatment apparatus for heat-treating a workpiece in a treating cell includes a hermetic chamber disposed at the center. A plurality of treating cells are disposed along the periphery of the hermetic chamber, and a workpiece transfer mechanism is disposed inside the hermetic chamber and transfers the workpiece from one of the treating cells to the hermetic chamber and from the hermetic chamber to one of the treating cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: JH Corporation
    Inventor: Noboru Hiramoto
  • Patent number: 6749425
    Abstract: An indirect heating furnace heats a substance in a reaction tube with a high-temperature combustion gas without contact between the substance and the combustion gas. The reaction tube is a stationary ceramic tube. A combustion device for supplying said heating high-temperature combustion gas into the furnace in comprised of at least one pair of regenerative burners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignees: JP Steel Plantech Co., Yoshizawa Lime Industry Co., Ltd., Merichem Company
    Inventor: Michio Nakayama
  • Publication number: 20040058293
    Abstract: An apparatus for sequential processing of a workpiece comprises an assembly line processing system. The apparatus comprises multiple workpieces moving in an assembly line fashion under multiple process stations. The multiple process stations provide different processes onto the workpieces for a sequential processing of the workpieces. The sequential processing action is carried out by the movement of the workpieces under the various process stations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2002
    Publication date: March 25, 2004
    Inventors: Tue Nguyen, Tai Dung Nguyen, Craig Alan Bercaw
  • Patent number: 6672864
    Abstract: A positive pressure gradient is maintained across an open access port of an interface chamber such as a load lock chamber which provides an interface between a low pressure chamber such as a transfer or buffer chamber, and a high pressure area such as a staging area or factory interface area. When the access port of the interface chamber is open to the high-pressure area, the positive pressure gradient may be used in some applications to inhibit the flow of gasses from the high-pressure area into the interior of the interface chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Hougong Wang, Zheng Xu, Kenny King-Tai Ngan
  • Patent number: 6672367
    Abstract: A system and method for heat treating castings and removing sand cores therefrom. The castings are initially located in indexed positions with their x, y, and z coordinates known. The castings are passed through a heat treatment station typically having a series of nozzles mounted in preset positions corresponding to the known indexed positions of the castings passing through the heat treatment station. The nozzles apply heat to the castings for heat treating the castings and dislodging the sand cores for removal from the castings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Consolidated Engineering Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott P. Crafton, Paul M. Crafton, Volker R. Knobloch, James L. Lewis, Jr., Ian French
  • Patent number: 6547556
    Abstract: A single furnace system integrates, in combination, two or more distinct heating environments (which in the preferred embodiments include a conduction heating environment and a convection heating environment) integrated such that the multiple environments define a continuous heating chamber through which a moving workpiece (such as a casting) transitions from one heating environment to the other without being exposed to the atmosphere. In accordance with the preferred methods, the transitioning of the casting from one environment to the other is accomplished with no meaningful change in temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Consolidated Engineering Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott P. Crafton, James L. Lewis, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20020058224
    Abstract: A single furnace system integrates, in combination, two or more distinct heating environments (which in the preferred embodiments include a conduction heating environment and a convection heating environment) integrated such that the multiple environments define a continuous heating chamber through which a moving workpiece (such as a casting) transitions from one heating environment to the other without being exposed to the atmosphere. In accordance with the preferred methods, the transitioning of the casting from one environment to the other is accomplished with no meaningful change in temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Publication date: May 16, 2002
    Inventors: Scott P. Crafton, James L. Lewis
  • Patent number: 6382964
    Abstract: Firing process and apparatus for uniformly heat-treating a substrate having a film-forming composition thereon, wherein the substrate is subjected to a first soaking step in which the substrate is held for a predetermined time in a first heating chamber whose temperature is maintained at a first value, so that the temperature within the substrate is held at the first value evenly throughout an entire mass of the substrate, and after feeding of the substrate into a second heating chamber whose temperature is maintained at a predetermined second value which is different from the first value by a predetermined difference, the substrate is subjected to a second soaking step in which the substrate is held for a second predetermined time in the second heating chamber, so that the temperature within the substrate is held at the second value evenly throughout the entire mass of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignees: Noritake Co., Ltd., Kyushu Noritake Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Susumu Sakamoto, Hiroshi Oshima, Hiroyuki Mori, Hironobu Ichihara, Yoji Sato
  • Patent number: 6336809
    Abstract: A single furnace system integrates, in combination, two or more distinct heating environments (which in the preferred embodiments include a conduction heating environment and a convection heating environment) integrated such that the multiple environments define a continuous heating chamber through which a moving workpiece (such as a casting) transitions from one heating environment to the other without being exposed to the atmosphere. In accordance with the preferred methods, the transitioning of the casting from one environment to the other is accomplished with no meaningful change in temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2002
    Assignee: Consolidated Engineering Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott P. Crafton, James L. Lewis, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6217317
    Abstract: A single furnace system integrates, in combination, two or more distinct heating environments (which in the preferred embodiments include a conduction heating environment and a convection heating environment) integrated such that the multiple environments define a continuous heating chamber through which a moving workpiece (such as a casting) transitions from one heating environment to the other without being exposed to the atmosphere. In accordance with the preferred methods, the transitioning of the casting from one environment to the other is accomplished with no meaningful change in temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Consolidated Engineering Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott P. Crafton, James L. Lewis, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6048199
    Abstract: A tunnel kiln for firing ceramic honeycomb structural body comprising a vestibule region, a carbonaceous material release region located downstream of the vestibule region and a sintering region located downstream of the carbonaceous material release region and having a multiplicity of kiln cars adapted to convey materials to be fired through the kiln. A gas distribution system is provided which includes a series of conduits each which operatively communicates with an injection site which operatively communicates with the interior of the release region for introducing a gas into the carbonaceous release region. The injection sites include a combustion burner located site, a vestibule located site, an undercar located site, a rooftop located site, and a sidewall located site or combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Alan T. Dull, Thomas S. Hinkle
  • Patent number: 5993202
    Abstract: The present invention prevents a lowering of the baking quality of a baked product due to a variation in the temperature distribution in a baking furnace due to the inflow of air into the baking furnace. A baking furnace has an inlet disposed in a clean room and an outlet disposed in a normal pressure room lower in pressure than the clean room. The baking furnace is provided with a differential pressure gauge, a controller, an inverter, and an exhaust fan installed in a return duct, the arrangement being such that the difference in pressure between the clean room and the normal pressure room is detected by the differential pressure gauge and the operation of the exhaust fan is controlled by the controller according to the detected differential pressure, so that the air flowed in through the inlet is discharged through the return duct. Thus, the air is prevented from flowing into the baking furnace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumio Yamazaki, Hiroshi Asanuma
  • Patent number: 5525196
    Abstract: An improved process for producing a formed activated coke for simultaneous desulfurization and denitrification, which includes passing a ground coal through a tubular or cylindrical carbonization retort by using a hot gas stream, to subject the coal to preliminary carbonization to obtain a semi-coke, adding a caking agent to the semi-coke and forming the mixture, subjecting the formed material to carbonization to obtain a formed coke, and transferring the formed coke from the top to the bottom of a vertical multi-tubular retort of indirect heating and cooling (cooling is optional) type that includes a distribution section, a heating section, an activation section and a cooling section (the distribution section and the cooling section are optional) arranged in this order (the distribution section is at the top), to activate the formed coke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Assignee: Mitsui Mining Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihisa Yuda, Masahiro Matsuoka, Kazuhiko Hanashita, Fumiaki Furusawa, Mitsuhiro Takada
  • Patent number: 5312246
    Abstract: An apparatus for heating and conveying a granular material is disclosed, and which comprises an elongate trough, and a framework mounting a plurality of transverse blades mounted above the trough. The framework is moved along a closed path of travel so that the blades move through a forward stroke, a lifting stroke, a return stroke, and a downward stroke which returns the blades to their original position. Thus a granular material may be moved along the length of the trough in a series of sequential steps. Also, the blades are internally heated, and the bottom wall of the trough is also heated, to effect heating of the advancing granular material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1994
    Assignee: Astec Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: J. Donald Brock
  • Patent number: 4767324
    Abstract: A muffle furnace burnout section includes dual parallel spargers each having parallel first and second sparger sections. The region between the first and second sparger sections includes a thermal and gas barrier transition section secured to the spargers. The transition section is removable from the muffle with the sparger assembly as an integral unit. The transition section is adjustable and mates with a transition barrier plate secured within the muffle at the transition region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1988
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Thomas T. Hitch
  • Patent number: 4629419
    Abstract: An apparatus for calcining a granular or powdered mineral, more specifically hydrated calcium sulphate, comprising a vessel the side wall or walls of which slope inwardly toward a bottom of small cross-sectional area, as compared with an upper region of the vessel, and provided with a downwardly extending heating tube connectable in an upper portion to a gas source and an opening in a lower portion into the interior of the vessel adjacent to the bottom thereof, the arrangement being such that, in use, hot gases issuing from the lower portion of the heating tube will mix and heat substantially all the contents of the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1986
    Assignee: BPB Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventors: Arthur G. T. Ward, Christopher Todd-Davies
  • Patent number: 4264299
    Abstract: A process and apparatus are disclosed for controlling losses in volatile working fluid systems. In accordance with the process, the object upon which a work operation is to be effected is sequentially moved from a first sealable chamber to a second such chamber and back to the first chamber. While in the second chamber the object is exposed to a working fluid vapor which elevates the temperature of the object to a level near the boiling point of the working fluid. Thereafter, while still in the second chamber, a substantial portion of the working fluid is drained from the object such that the sensible heat acquired by the object upon its elevation of temperature is sufficient to evaporate working fluid remaining on the object upon its removal to the first chamber. Upon removal of the object to the first chamber the object is thoroughly dried through control of the partial pressure of the working fluid vapor contained within the first chamber atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1980
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1981
    Assignee: Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated
    Inventors: Hans H. Ammann, Michael A. Oien