Non-contacting seal for treating chamber through which elongated material is moved
US4174842A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 31, 1978 |
| Grant date | Nov 20, 1979 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 31, 1998 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S277/906
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A device (80) for sealing a furnace (50) which is used to draw a fiber (52) from a rod-like preform (51) includes a housing (82) having a cavity (121) for receiving a disc (111). The disc (111) is suspended for movement in the cavity in a plane lateral to the preform that extends through a center opening (116) in the disc and into the furnace. An inert gas is supplied to the cavity and directed inwardly through radially disposed passageways (118--118) in the disc (111) to impinge on the preform and split into two streams which move along the preform in opposite directions to prevent the entry of ambient air into, as well as the escape of gas from within, the furnace. The inert gas also causes the disc to be moved within the cavity to compensate for irregularities in the preform or for its misalignment from a vertical axis of the furnace, and provides a cushion so that contact between the disc and the preform is avoided.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.