Methods and systems for controlling air flow through an annealing furnace during optical fiber production
US11237323B2 · kind B2 · utility
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3References
25Claims
0Family size
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Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 20, 2018 |
| Grant date | Feb 1, 2022 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 5, 2040 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC03B2205/56
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An optical fiber production system includes an annealing furnace having a furnace inlet, a furnace outlet, and a process tube extending between the furnace inlet and the furnace outlet, the process tube having a process tube wall and a heating zone including at least one heating element. The optical fiber production system also includes a gas distribution assembly fluidly coupled to the furnace outlet and structurally configured to induce gas flow from the gas distribution assembly into the process tube such that gas flows within the process tube in an upflow direction.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.