Patent · US Expired

Electric heater element support

US5497394A · kind A · utility

13Cited by
10References
36Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 19, 1994
Grant dateMar 5, 1996
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 19, 2014

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH05B3/66
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A vacuum furnace has a heating chamber heated by metal strip electric heater elements. The elements have insulated mechanical support between their ends to hold them in position in the furnace. Support is provided by a ceramic post having an internal thread in an outer end threaded onto a rod secured to a portion of the furnace. A transverse member at an inner end of the post includes a straight surface normal to the length of the post for engaging the heater element. The heater element is compliantly connected to the straight surface. One embodiment of heater element support is in the form of a T-shaped ceramic post having an internal thread in the leg of the T and a ceramic crossbar having a straight surface normal to the length of the post for receiving the heater element. Another embodiment has a ceramic post having an internal thread in the outer end of the post and a metallic crossbar having a straight surface normal to the length of the post for receiving a heater element.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.