Abstract: An apparatus for transporting a workpiece at high temperature is provided with enclosure means substantially surrounding a workpiece supported, or gripped by, the apparatus. The enclosure includes an interior surface positioned to be exposed to the workpiece and formed from a material that is highly reflective of infrared radiation. Separate segments of the enclosure are movable relative to each other (e.g., hingedly connected to each other) to permit entry and removal of a workpiece. Provision is also made for introducing an inert atmosphere into the enclosure.

Abstract: The furnace is circular in plan and comprises an annular charge space charged through chutes in its top wall. Effluent gas offtakes are provided in the furnace outer wall and the level of the charge bed is maintained above the chute bottoms but below those offtakes. Hot gases generated externally of the furnace pass into it through an opening in its bottom wall or hearth and travel upwardly through the charge. Solids are discharged downwardly through the same opening in counterflow. A vertical axle is journalled centrally in an upper wall of the annular furnace chamber spaced above the opening in the hearth, and a plow affixed to the lower end of the axle rotates in an open space between the hearth of the annular furnace chamber and its inside wall, so scraping heated charge solids into the discharge opening. The axle is pressure sealed to the wall through which it passes, and that seal is the only rotating seal required for the furnace.

Abstract: A discharge chute assembly for a rotary calcining hearth in which a carriage movable radially along tracks carries one or more pairs of opposed rollers receiving a flange extending around the hearth. The carriage supports the chute to cause the chute to follow any radial fluctuations in the position of the hearth edge and thereby minimize spillage of material. The chute is disposed with its upper edge extending into an outwardly opening circumferential channel formed around the side of the hearth beneath the upper surface, further minimizing spillage.

Abstract: A tunnel kiln through which carriers carry ceramic ware to be fired includes an elongated tunnel having a closed bottom, a stationary flue at the bottom of the tunnel, and at least one transport way disposed in the tunnel above the stationary flue for carrying the carriers through the tunnel. The transport way comprises a support means and rolling means are provided between the support means and the carrier for rollably carrying the carriers along the transport way, whereby ceramic ware on the carriers are fired as the carriers traverse the tunnel kiln.

Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus for thermal diffusion by means of high frequency induction heating suitable for mass production of semiconductor substrates of uniform quality; wherein a plurality of heating bases, each made of a material having good electric conductivity, and carrying semiconductor substrates, are continuously fed through a furnace tube where the bases are heated by means of high frequency wave excitation in order that each semiconductor substrate receives substantially the same thermal treatment.

Abstract: A high temperature-resistant, open-mesh fabric conveyor belt for conveying graphic arts printed or coated material over a vacuum bed and through a high temperature oven is described. A V-belt is secured to the open-mesh fabric to center and guide the belt wherein the V-belt is guided by suitable guide slots in suitable guide members which require no adjustments for guiding. The V-belt is vulcanized to a strip of cotton tape, and the strip is, in turn, sewn to the open-mesh belt by a high temperature-resistant thread. In one embodiment, a single V-belt is centrally located on the belt. In a second embodiment, two V-belts are located adjacent to the respective opposite edges of the belt. In a narrow conveyor belt, a single V-belt can be provided at one edge of the conveyor belt.

Abstract: A gate for casting molten material, including smelting basalt, in spin-casting molds. The gate includes a curved channel, and means for cooling the channel so as to attain a temperature required for mold spinning operations. The channel includes a main vertical section having a steep impact zone, a drawn-back inlet section and an inclined horizontal end section.

Abstract: Continuous calcination of gypsum is provided by uniformly feeding uncalcined gypsum into the calcining batch in a kettle to a location below the surface but above the uppermost agitator, and allowing calcined gypsum to be discharged from the kettle through a discharge outlet in the wall of the kettle at the top surface of the calcining gypsum.

Abstract: To permit random loading of workpieces for passage through a furnace, and removal of the workpieces for subsequent handling by presses and the like, the furnace is constructed as a roller hearth furnace in which the width of the roller hearth is a multiple of the diameter of the ring-shaped workpieces, and adjacent the outlet an aligning means is provided in the form of a funnel of which one side wall is movable, for example by longitudinal or transverse reciprocation to align the randomly positioned workpieces in single file. A roller conveyor, with progressively increasing conveyor speed, is located beneath the aligning funnel to remove the aligned workpieces in single file for subsequent handling and treatment.

Abstract: A longitudinally reciprocating grate plate in a substantially horizontal plane for an apparatus for heat variation, such as for cooling or combustion, forming a bed for forwarding a flow of material comprising a one-piece frame shaped base plate with an upper substantially flat surface portion and a slightly rising portion in the direction of flow of said material over said grate, the base plate provided with hollows, internal recesses and protrusions, a plurality of rib-shaped wear pieces to provide a long-life wear surface to the plate in its plane, the wear pieces disengageably assembled with the base plate provided with internal protrusions and recesses in assembly mating with the hollows, recesses and protrusions respectively, of the plate in a snug, easily assembled loose fit and devoidly of any additional independent connecting means such as screws, bolts or welds. The base plate and the wear pieces in assembly are forming slots substantially in the vertical direction to form jet-type air ducts.

Abstract: A conveyor for heat treating furnaces including a plurality of heat insulating elements mounted on a conveyor roller-chain assembly and arranged side-by-side along the conveyor path through the furnace. Articles to be heat treated are supported on the insulating elements for movement by the conveyor through the furnace. The insulating elements are of ceramic fiber heat insulating material of relatively low density and low heat storage capacity. The material of the elements is flexible and has resiliency, and the elements initially are resiliently compressed against each other so as to remain in side-by-side contact even after subsequent heat shrinkage.

Abstract: A scraper flight conveyor for preheating thermoplastic bulk material and feeding it to a screw extruder comprises a succession of controllably heated slideways arranged in superposed series, a plurality of scraper flights in sliding contact with each slideway and spaced along a path of travel over the surface thereof, and a drive operable to move the scraper flights on each slideway along the path of travel. The scraper flights push discrete portions of the thermoplastic bulk material along the path of travel. The delivery rate of the material to the slideways is controlled.

Abstract: A delivery device for delivering articles to be heated within a compound furnace, including at least two furnace chambers differing in heating conditions and which can effectively prevent damage to the articles by melt adhesion due to contact with each other and which can also reduce the adverse influence of high temperatures upon the component members of the delivery device is disclosed as including clamps which are capable of reciprocating within a delivery passage and which have the function of clamping and unclamping the articles to be heated so as to deliver or transport the same. Running rods, upon which the clamps are fixed, are adapted to move along the delivery passage and a main drive source for driving the rods and clamps, as well as a subsidiary drive source for performing the clamping and unclamping operations of the clamps are also provided.

Abstract: A support means for the ceramic rolls of the roller hearth in a kiln. A means of support is provided for the roller hearth which can withstand the high temperatures and loadings of the kiln.

Abstract: A gas collection apparatus for use in open electrical smelting furnaces is disclosed. The apparatus comprises an annular body about the outer circumference of the furnace and sealed to the top edge of the furnace on one side thereof with a sloped wall extending into the furnace on the other side to a depth below the normal height of the charge in the furnace.

Abstract: An insertable and reversible rabble tooth for the rabble arms of furnaces including specially shaped wedges to clamp the rabble teeth to the rabble arm in either in hearth condition or in out hearth condition by reversing the positions of the wedges and reversing the positions of the teeth held by the wedges.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for the heat treatment of materials on a traveling hearth mounted on a horizontal plane and rotated on a vertical axis within a substantially air-tight enclosure. The materials on the hearth are deposited thereon in separate and distinct rows and retained in separate rows while undergoing heat treatment within the enclosure. The material in one of said rows is capable of evolving volatiles when the materials are subjected to a heat treatment and the evolved volatiles rise and are dispersed in the upper portion of the enclosure where the same will combine with an oxidant such as air and/or oxygen which is admitted into this portion of the enclosure. The mixture of evolved volatiles and oxidants such as air and/or oxygen will combust in the upper portion of the enclosure.

Abstract: A conveyor for a furnace includes a walking beam unit mounted within an elongated opening through the bottom wall. A longitudinally-moving H-shaped support member is located beneath a refractory beam. An expandable tube extends beneath the beam and has a central passageway in the crossbar portion connected in series with the tubular member. Cooling water flows through the expandable tube and the beam passageway. Expansion and contraction of the tube is affected by selectively restricting the exhaust flow of the cooling fluid. An upwardly open channel supports the tube on a roller support to movably mount the beam, tube and channel supports as a unit. A cylinder operator is secured to one end.

Abstract: A furnace hearth for receiving and transporting small parts over the length of the furnace designed to prevent the parts from passing between the hearth links and especially at the furnace outlet where the links are detached from each other in passing over a driving boss. The hearth is formed by interlocking identical links and edge pieces having a horizontal portion and a vertical edge. A female pivot and a male pivot are provided on the links and edge pieces on opposite ends for interengagement.

Abstract: A resilient thermally-conductive pressure compensator for use in heating plate presses used to manufacture coated wood panels or boards, comprising a composite sheet consisting of a woven mesh of metal wires embedded in a matrix of a heat conducting elastomeric filler material.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatically replacing damaged conveyor grates which can be remotely controlled. The apparatus is disposed slightly above the empty, return side of the conveyor at the cool end, and performs its function in this maintenance area. The apparatus employs a plurality of working heads which remove the damaged grate and replace it with a new grate without interrupting conveyor motion. The working heads are suspended above the conveyor in the maintenance area by a plurality of carriages which permit the working heads to access any grate within the maintenance area. The carriages also allow the working heads to move with the conveyor during the grate replacement cycle. Although the manipulation of these heads and carriages is largely automatic, the operator can initiate, direct and observe the apparatus' movements from a remote station thereby isolating him from a hazardous environment.

Abstract: This patent discloses a transfer system for transferring discs from a furnace boat to a cleaning carrier in which alternate discs are transferred from the boat to a carrier and then the remainder of the discs are transferred to a carrier.