Roller hearth furnace for glass sheets
US3947242A · kind A · utility
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 19, 1975 |
| Grant date | Mar 30, 1976 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 19, 1995 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC03B29/08
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A roller hearth furnace having a plurality of horizontally elongated furnace modules aligned with each other in an end-to-end relationship so a roller conveyor may carry glass sheets horizontally through the furnace and thereby heat the glass prior to tempering. Each furnace module has a hollow construction with a circular cross-section defined by a semicircular lower housing portion and a semicircular upper housing portion. A separate counterbalance mechanism associated with each upper housing portion supports it independently of the others for movement between a lower closed position immediately over its associated lower housing portion and an upper open position where the interior of its associated lower housing portion is accessible. The counterbalance mechanisms each include four chains attached to counterweights in a manner that permits counter-balancing of the associated upper housing portion even if one chain should break. One chain of each counterbalance mechanism is driven by an associated reversible electric motor to raise and lower its upper housing portion, and a separate elongated operator handle extending along the length of each upper housing portion is coupled to t…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.