Abstract: A heat exchange furnace includes a surrounding wall disposed around a combustion furnace unit so as to define an annular heat exchange space therebetween. Upright buffer plates divide the heat exchange space into a plurality of air chambers communicated with each other. Upper and lower gas-guiding members are connected respectively and fixedly to upper and lower ends of the surrounding wall. Conduit sets are disposed within the heat exchange space, and cooperate with the upper and lower gas-guiding members so as to constitute cooperatively at least one serpentine gas flow path disposed within the heat exchange space.

Abstract: A heat exchange furnace includes a combustion furnace module, a passageway module disposed around and connected removably to the combustion furnace module, and a gas-guiding unit including upper and lower guiding modules connected respectively to upper and lower ends of the passageway module. During assembly, the lower guiding module is first connected removably to the passageway module. Subsequently, the passageway module is sleeved removably on the combustion furnace module. Finally, the upper guiding module is connected removably to the passageway module.

Abstract: A method and/or apparatus for efficiently operating a combustion device including at least one control zone, with each control zone including at least one burner assembly, is disclosed and includes a) individually supplying fuel to each of the burner assemblies in each of the control zones, b) individually measuring a separate combustion characteristic of the collective combusted gas from each of the burner assemblies in each of the control zones, and c) individually adjusting the flow of air to each of the burner assemblies in response to the value of the combustion characteristic corresponding to each of the control zones to keep the value of each separate combustion characteristic within a predetermined range. In a preferred embodiment, primary air and secondary air are separately supplied and controlled to each of the burner assemblies in each of the control zones in response to the value of the combustion characteristic corresponding to each of the control zones.

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.

Abstract: A method for heat treating a material such as gypsum mineral, consists in burning a fuel in a combustion bed which is in heat exchange contact through bounding walls with beds of the material to be heated. Combustion gases are passed from the combustor through the heat treatment vessels containing beds and these gases then serve to fluidize at least partly and add heat to the beds through the agency of distributors.

Abstract: A device for automatically shutting off a sulfur melter when its supply of sulfur is exhausted or when sulfur bridging has occurred is disclosed. The shutoff uses a temperature value sensed at the top of the melter's sloping melter bottom and shuts the heat off when the sensed temperature exceeds a preset value related to sulfur's melting temperature. The device avoids jamming and maintenance problems inherent in the use of mechanical level controls in a powdered/molten sulfur environment.

Abstract: This invention provides an oven to produce a desired baking effect while simultaneously providing the bread with a desirable brown coloration in both its top and bottom surfaces. A unique feature of this oven is the provision of a top radiant refractory arch wall and top flame heating to effect a desired radiance to the refractory arch surface, and also to simultaneously produce a desired radiance to a horizontally disposed radiant plate suitably disposed above the bread travelling continuously there beneath. The oven of this invention provides for substantially flash baking of relatively thin bread discs with a suitable crust formation and coloration of both its top and bottom surfaces. This oven provides also a novel method of baking relatively thin bread material.

Abstract: A collar for supporting and positioning a diffusion tube in a furnace used in the manufacture of semiconductors, integrated circuits and the like, is disclosed. The collar has a resilient core and an outer cover enclosing the core. The core and the cover are made of materials which readily withstand the normal operating temperatures of the furnace. The collar is dimensioned to tightly fit around a circumference of the diffusion tube, and to fit within an aperture provided in a support block of the furnace. The collar permits precise positioning of the diffusion tube relative to a helical heating coil provided in the furnace.