Vacuum furnace with convection heating and cooling
US5267257A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 14, 1991 |
| Grant date | Nov 30, 1993 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 14, 2011 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF27B5/16
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A high temperature vacuum furnace has a circulating path external to the heating chamber for facilitating inert gas circulation during initial convection heating of a high temperature vacuum furnace. The heating chamber of the furnace and a surrounding cooling gas introduction chamber are within a metallic convection shroud in such a way that the space in between defines a heating gas circulation chamber for circulating heated inert gas during low temperature heating for accelerating the heating-up of the hot zone to its normal operating temperatures. Once the hot zone has reached a selected temperature, the inert gas is pumped out and the furnace then operates in a vacuum. Quenching is achieved by introducing cooling gas into the heating chamber via nozzles through the heating chamber walls.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.