High temperature furnace having reconfigurable heater circuits
US9681496B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 11, 2013 |
| Grant date | Jun 13, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 27, 2036 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01K15/005
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The core of a high temperature furnace has an elongated central test cavity for testing/calibration of a temperature-sensitive component, such as the probe of a thermocouple. At least three electrical heating elements as positioned adjacent to the test cavity, including two elements adjacent to the opposite end portions of the test cavity, respectively, and a center element between the end elements. A uniform temperature profile is maintained in the cavity by control circuitry that manages the supply of electrical power to the heating elements, by periodically configuring interconnections of the elements during multiple phases of a duty cycle. The duty cycle includes a first phase in which current is passed through the center element, a second phase in which current is passed through the end elements in series, and a third phase in which current is passed through one of the end elements and also through the center element without passing current through the other end element.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.