Abstract: A solid/heat-transport and reactive gas reactor, including: a helical duct including an inlet and an outlet, the helical duct defining a helical bottom track on which a solid reagent can slide from the inlet to the outlet of the helical duct; a mechanism for bringing the solid reagent to the inlet of the helical duct; a mechanism for causing a heat-transport gas to flow in the helical duct, from the outlet to the inlet of the helical duct; a reservoir of solid reagent under the outlet of the helical duct; and a conveyor for conveying the reagent from a low point of the reservoir to the bringing mechanism.

Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus including: a heating part for heating a wafer; a transport part through which a wafer is transported; a first transfer arm that receives a wafer from the heating part and places the wafer on the transport part; and a second transfer arm including a pair of plate-like tweezers that receives the wafer placed on the transport part from the transport part and transfers the wafer. The transport part includes a cooling plate having a cooling surface on which a wafer is placed. The cooling plate includes a temperature-adjusting channel through which a temperature-adjusting water is circulated for cooling the cooling plate to a temperature lower than a temperature of the heating process of the heating part. The cooling surface is provided with a recess that is similar in shape to and slightly larger than a planar shape of the pair of tweezers.

Abstract: A heat treatment device of the present disclosure is a heat treatment device including a cooling chamber (120) for cooling a heated treatment object (M), further including: a mist supply portion (20) for supplying a coolant in mist form into the cooling chamber; and a gas supply portion (30) for supplying a gas into the cooling chamber to adjust a flow direction of the coolant in mist form.

Abstract: A workpiece support is disclosed defining a workpiece-receiving surface. The workpiece support includes a plurality of fluid zones. A fluid, such as a gas, is fed to the fluid zones for contact with a workpiece on the workpiece support. The fluid can have selected thermoconductivity characteristics for controlling the temperature of the workpiece at particular locations. In accordance with the present disclosure, at least certain of the fluid zones are at different azimuthal positions. In this manner, the temperature of the workpiece can be adjusted not only in a radial direction but also in an angular direction.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for the thermal treatment of metallic workpieces with which gas quenching can be obtained that is low in distortion, even for workpieces with an undulating shape or workpieces that are projectingly stackable are provided. In accordance with the method, after being heated the workpieces are cooled in a quenching chamber with a quenching gas, whereby the quenching gas is intentionally caused to flow around the workpieces by means of guide channels that have a closed lateral surface and that enclose the workpieces along the direction of flow of the quenching gas. The apparatus comprises a quenching chamber in which the workpieces can be cooled with a quenching gas, and wherein guide channels are provided to ensure that the quenching gas flows around the workpieces, the guide channels having a closed lateral surface and enclosing the workpieces along the direction of flow of the quenching gas.

Abstract: Disclosed is a moveable heat exchanger for use with a high temperature chamber, such as for instance a nitriding furnace. The heat exchanger is between a first position external to the furnace, and a second position in which the heat exchanger projects substantially into the furnace through an opening in a wall surface of the furnace. In use, the heat exchanger is in the first position during a high temperature portion of a process and is in the second position during a cooling portion subsequent to the high temperature portion of the process. The heat exchanger sealingly engages the wall surface about its periphery to prevent the exchange of atmospheric components in either direction between the interior of the furnace and the outside.

Abstract: A multi-stage heating apparatus having a first stage combustion chamber, a second stage combustion chamber, a primary porous matrix chamber disposed between the first and second stage combustion chambers, a secondary porous matrix chamber, heat exchanger tubes for transfer of heat from the combustion products to a working fluid, a recirculation device for recirculating combustion products in the first and second stage combustion chambers to the root of flames therein. A mixture of fuel and primary oxidant is introduced into the first stage combustion chamber, and the products of combustion therein are conveyed to the porous matrix chamber disposed between the first and second stage combustion chambers. After undergoing intensive heat transfer in the porous matrix chamber, the cooler products of combustion flow into the second stage combustion chamber forming additional products of combustion.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing insulating glass units is disclosed that comprises delivering a succession of high temperature insulating glass units from an oven and a press, moving successive IGUs along a travel path with the major surfaces of each IGU extending substantially parallel to the major surfaces of adjacent IGUs, establishing an IGU cooling station on the travel path, moving the IGUs into heat exchange relationship with a fluent cooling medium at the cooling station to reduce the IGU temperature, and thereafter closing and sealing a vent opening of each IGU. Successive IGUs are moved along the travel path with their major surfaces disposed in substantially vertical planes and successive IGUs disposed in closely spaced relation. The cooling station comprises at least a blower for directing cooling medium onto IGUs moving through the cooling station. The blower directs cooling medium onto the IGUs in a direction parallel to the major surfaces.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cooler grate for a reciprocating grate cooler, with a plurality of grate plate supports extending transversely with respect to the cooler grate and constructed as hollow bodies, on which in each case grate plates are supported so that they are co-ordinated in transverse rows and sealed by means of screw connections, wherein the grate plates have cooling gas openings and cooling gas connecting channels are constructed between the grate plate support and the cooling gas openings.

Abstract: In a tunnel kiln or other through-type kiln having aligned successive preheating, firing and cooling zones, counter-current air flows are provided in the preheating and cooling zones while essentially isolating the firing zone from air exchange by circulating air between the preheating and cooling zones through external conduits bypassing the firing zone, thereby substantially reducing energy consumption and providing environmentally safe exhaust from the kiln without substantial expense for air filtration.

Abstract: A wire coating oven (2) is disclosed which includes a wire cooling apparatus (1) for cooling a wire (3) passing therethrough, while minimizing gaseous emissions. The cooling apparatus includes a wire cooling passage (10) having a wire entrance end (13) adjacent the oven and a wire exit end open to the atmosphere, with the wire cooling passage defined by a first wall (11) which surrounds the wire passing therethrough. A hot gas passage (15) is defined by a spacing between the first wall and a second wall (14) disposed adjacent thereto with hot gas entering the passage at about the wire exit end and exiting at the oven end. The first wall includes an outwardly tapered surface (19) near the wire entrance end for forming a venturi with the second wall, whereby a hot gas passing therebetween creates a negative pressure within the wire passage, drawing cool air (20) into the wire passage, cooling the wire and drawing any vaporous emissions into the oven.

Abstract: A transport surface for a kiln for firing heavy ceramic articles includes a loading, an unloading end, a chassis standing between the ends and a transport surface resiliently connected to said chassis; a drive motor for imparting vibratory motion to the transport surface portion is provided externally of a hearth in which the surface portion is disposed; a releasing guide is provided to facilitate movement of the surface portion in a selected direction upwardly and forwardly an extent sufficient to shift an article resting on the surface portion from the loading to the unloading end; loading and unloading devices are provided to automatically load and unload articles from the transport surface; the hearth includes conduits for carrying cooling air along the hearth on the outside thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for improving the surface characteristics of wax-based material such as a deodorant or anti-perspirant stick housed in a container is provided. The apparatus comprises a hollow walled housing having an inlet and outlet portion. A plurality of rows of horizontally mounted endless conveyors each comprised of a plurality of interconnected conveyor feet are mounted in the housing for moving containers therethrough in reciprocating fashion. A plurality of spaced separators are mounted between the rows and containers move sequentially through these rows from the inlet to the outlet of the housing. A duct system is connected with the housing for circulating air through the housing and creating a reduced pressure therein. A plurality of heating units arranged in sequence are mounted over the rows which units are capable of melting the wax-based material.

Abstract: A procelain enameling furnace includes a combined entrance/exit zone, an air seal section, a radiation/convection heat transfer section, and a heating section. The entrance/exit zone receives an incoming cool ware and discharges an outgoing hot ware at substantially the same location. The air seal section prevents loss of heat from the furnace through the entrance/exit zone. In the heat transfer section, the incoming ware is parallel to and travels in the opposite direction to the outgoing ware for transferring heat therebetween by radiation and convection. The heating section includes a pre-heating zone and at least one heating zone. The pre-heating zone is formed of U-shaped heat exchanger tubes through which the incoming ware passes following the heat transfer section. The heating zone is formed of U-shaped radiant heating tubes for heating the cool ware following the pre-heating zone.

Abstract: A heat treating furnace for a metallic strip, which includes a heat exchanging zone and a heating/soaking zone provided within a furnace body by dividing the furnace body with a partition wall disposed in a widthwise direction so as to transport the metallic strip in a confronting state through the heat exchanging zone. The heat exchanging zone is further provided with nozzles for jetting atmospheric gas of the heat exchanging zone onto opposite surfaces of the metallic strip being transported, an atmosphere supply duct for the nozzles, and a circulation fan so as to utilize sensible heat discharged or dissipated from the metallic strip during pre-cooling for pre-heating the metallic strip.

Abstract: A continuous heat-treating furnace comprises, a housing structure having an entrance and an exit defined at its opposite ends, respectively, and also having defined therein a preheating zone adjacent the entrance, a cooling zone adjacent the exit and a high temperature zone intermediate between the preheating and cooling zones, a recirculating duct fluid-connecting a portion of the housing structure in register with the preheating zone to another portion of the housing structure in register with the cooling zone, and a blower for forcibly drawing gas inside the preheating zone and directing it into the cooling zone through the recirculating duct.

Abstract: Disclosed are apparatuses and methods for transferring heat from a relatively hot stream of solid materials to a relatively cold stream of solid materials. Both streams cascade downward under the force of gravity over a series of heat pipes which are arranged between the streams to transfer heat therebetween. The heat pipes are arranged so they provide countercurrent heat transfer between the two materials streams. The invention is shown applied to a process for recovering hydrocarbons from shale rock.

Abstract: A roller tunnel kiln for firing a drying refractory material advanced along the refractory rotatable rollers includes an upper section comprising a prefiring zone, a firing zone, a first forced cooling zone, a natural cooling zone and a second forced cooling zone. Parallel to the upper section along the length thereof a drying zone is arranged provided with refractory rotatable rollers for advancing movement of the material to be dried. A distributional tunnel is mounted parallel to the drying zone and is connected with the prekiln zone or with the forced cooling zone so that hot gases mixed with cool ambient air are directed into the distributing tunnel provided with openings communicating the latter with the drying zone. The hot gases at drying temperatures are further directed into drying tunnel in the direction opposite to that of the material to be dried.

Abstract: Modular, conveyor-type heat exchange apparatus is provided which is especially adapted for handling large volumes of shale rock and preheating incoming raw shale using hot, spent shale from a commercial processing operation. The apparatus includes an elongated heat exchange zone having a plurality of separate, interconnected, insulated modules; two superposed, oppositely moving sections of an endless conveyor pass through the zone and respectively support hot and raw shale material for heat exchange therebetween. The conveyor includes spaced, interconnected, shale-supporting triangular elements which facilitate gas flow between the conveyor sections in the heat exchange zone. In preferred forms, the modules present restricted inlet and outlet throats, and are provided with slow moving fans for circulation of air currents between the conveyor sections without creation of chimney-like drafts along the length of the modules.

Abstract: A grain drier comprising a plurality of horizontal conveyor belts arranged one above another in staggered relationship so that grain delivered to one end of the upper conveyor belt will drop onto the lower conveyor belt when it gets to the other end of the upper conveyor belt and will then travel along the lower conveyor belt in opposite direction before being discharged. Hot air is supplied by a hot air generator through conduits to a position below and along each of the conveyor belts, passes upwardly through the conveyor belts which are formed of wire mesh and through the grain thereon and is extracted through discharge conduits from above the conveyor belts. The flow rate and temperature of the hot air may be varied. Heat from the extracted air may be recovered and recycled into the hot air generator. Also heat from the dried grain may be recovered and reconducted by means of a blower fan through a conduit onto the incoming fresh grain.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process and apparatus for recovering high temperature heat normally lost from materials that have been processed at high temperature, and for transferring this heat directly to materials about to be processed. The apparatus comprises a tunnel having an infrared radiation reflective interior surface through which cool incoming and hot exiting workpieces pass. The cross-sectional shape of the tunnel is elliptical, and the workpieces are moved along focal lines so that radiation emitted from hot workpieces is reflected at the interior surface, directed to cool workpieces, and absorbed. A furnace suitable for subjecting a workpiece to a controlled thermal cycle is also disclosed.

Abstract: An improvement in the method of grain drying wherein grain is dried in a first drying bin and removed to a holding bin, the improvement comprising withdrawing hot air from the holding bin and circulating the hot air to the drying bin.

Abstract: Rotary furnace and preheater structure, wherein a billet is heated on an enclosed preheat conveyor where waste gases from the rotary hearth furnace preheat the billet counter to the billet travel direction. The preheated billet is inserted into the rotary hearth furnace wherein combustion gases, exiting from burners mounted in the furnace roof or sidewalls, flow counter to the hearth rotation direction and exit into the enclosed preheat conveyor. A baffle, depending from the stationary furnace roof, controls combustion gas movement counter to the billet travel direction in the furnace, and forces the combustion gases out of the furnace through a flue communicating with the preheat conveyor. A source of aspiration is provided to communicate with the preheat conveyor, and thus to facilitate combustion gas movement therethrough.

Abstract: A heat reclaim system for reclaiming waste heat from a material processing line by bleeding a portion of the heated air from one or more points on the material heat processing line and directing such heated air through an economizer containing a bank of serpentine coils. Water is pumped through the economizer coils to extract heat from the air, and the heated water leaving the economizer is piped to another heat exchanger where the reclaimed heat is extracted from the water for use in other processes. More than one economizer may be provided in each heat reclaim system for receiving bleed-off air from different points on the material heat processing line, with the economizers connected in series to obtain the highest temperature difference between the air and water.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus and method for heating ferromagnetic abrasive shot to a selected temperature substantially above the Curie Point temperature of the metal forming the shot. An elongated generally cylindrical retort, having a central axis and a central passage and being formed from a magnetically permeable material having a Curie Point temperature, is divided into first and second axially spaced heating zones. Each zone is surrounded by a generally cylindrical surface portion of the central passage. A first inductor means is used for inductively heating the generally cylindrical surface portion of the first zone to a temperature below the Curie Point temperature of the retort material so that a major portion of the magnetic flux from the first inductor means is concentrated in the metal forming the retort.

Abstract: A heat transfer apparatus for controlling the temperature of a formed workpiece is provided. The apparatus is in the form of a multi-tier rotary preheat, quench and heat recovery tunnel which provides for transfer of heat between tiers from workpieces to be cooled to workpieces to be heated, thereby conserving heat energy. Transfer of heat is accomplished by means of fans interconnected with the tier levels of the tunnel. A control system ensures proper temperature of air, passing through a hot-air fan, which is removed from a second level and transferred to a first level. Means are provided for loading slugs to be preheated prior to forming onto a first annular tray on the first level and for removing same after it has completed a single rotation about the cooling tunnel. After being further heated in an induction furnace, the slug is warm formed in a press to a desired configuration.

Abstract: A preheating system for an aluminum remelt furnace, the preheating system extracting hot flue gases from the melting furnace and passing them through cartridges specially designed to hold various forms of aluminum stock in a manner permitting effective transfer of heat from the flue gas.