High temperature vacuum furnace heater element support assembly
US9702627B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 16, 2014 |
| Grant date | Jul 11, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 19, 2035 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF27D2099/0008
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An electrical insulating and heating element support assembly for a high temperature vacuum furnace having a threaded support rod for connecting a heating element to the insulated hot-zone support ring in an electrically non-connected position includes insulator sleeves and washers surrounding the rod in contact with a series of refractory metal washers which may include graphite and/or molybdenum as shielding liners used to protect electrical insulators from having electrical short path means due to deposition of conductive materials onto the non-conducting insulators, and the use of threaded nuts and bushings to anchor the rod and shielding arrangement within the furnace hot zone. The non-conducting insulators and washers are made from materials with high thermal and electrical resistance, such as preferably alumina or mullite, and radially surround the support rod and the heating element. The electrically non-connected shielding washers and nuts, and the rod can be made from graphite or molybdenum, and are designed to be easily disassembled in order to provide relatively easier maintenance service to the vacuum furnace. This design accomplishes the dual objective of supporting b…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.