Heat treatment method using a zoned tunnel furnace
US4966547A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 31, 1989 |
| Grant date | Oct 30, 1990 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 31, 2009 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF27M2001/1504
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The invention relates to the control of a tunnel furnace partitioned into a plurality of zones for heat treatment of, e.g., ceramic or glass workpieces. As usual the temperatures of the respective zones are controllable individually. Furthermore, in each of selected zones the temperature of that zone is varied from a first level to a second level during the stay of each workpiece in that zone and returned to the first level in a predetermined time after letting the workpiece out of that zone, and the length of stay of each workpiece in that zone is controlled such that another workpiece can be introduced into that zone while the preceding workpiece stays in the next zone and such that a number of workpieces can be heat treated in succession under the same time-temperature conditions.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.