Modification of indirect-fired paint curing oven atmospheric environment through the introduction of gas combustion products
AssigneeFord Motor Company
InventorMark Clinton Melvin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for thermally treating components includes an indirect-fired oven, the indirect-fired oven having an internal chamber configured to house the components and an air intake in fluid communication with the internal chamber. A source of heat is disposed external to the internal chamber of the indirect-fired oven, and a combustion source is disposed external to the internal chamber of the indirect-fired oven and is configured to generate gas combustion products. An exhaust line is in fluid communication with the internal chamber of the indirect-fired oven, and the gas combustion products are introduced into the internal chamber of the indirect-fired oven.
Claims17
A system for thermally treating components, the system comprising:
- an indirect-fired oven, the indirect-fired oven comprising:
- an internal chamber configured to house the components;
- and
- an air intake in fluid communication with the internal chamber;
- a combustion heater disposed external to the internal chamber of the indirect-fired oven, the combustion heater configured to generate gas combustion products, the combustion heater being in fluid communication with the internal chamber;
- a return line in fluid communication with the internal chamber of the indirect-fired oven and the combustion heater, the return line comprising a flow control valve;
- and
- an exhaust line in fluid communication with the internal chamber of the indirect-fired oven,
- wherein the gas combustion products are introduced into the internal chamber of the indirect-fired oven, the gas combustion products chemically reacting with a coating on the components, thereby improving adhesion.
A system for thermally treating components, the system comprising:
- an indirect-fired oven, the indirect-fired oven comprising:
- an internal chamber configured to house the components;
- and
- an air intake in fluid communication with the internal chamber;
- a source of heat disposed external to the internal chamber of the indirect-fired oven;
- a combustion source disposed external to the internal chamber of the indirect-fired oven and configured to generate gas combustion products, the combustion source in fluid communication with the internal chamber;
- a return line in fluid communication with the internal chamber of the indirect-fired oven and the combustion heater, the return line comprising a flow control valve;
- and
- an exhaust line in fluid communication with the internal chamber of the indirect-fired oven,
- wherein the gas combustion products are introduced into the internal chamber of the indirect-fired oven, the gas combustion products chemically reacting with a coating on the components, thereby improving adhesion.
A method of thermally treating components, the method comprising:
- placing at least one component into an internal chamber of an indirect-fired oven;
- externally heating a fluid and providing the heated fluid through an air intake, the air intake in fluid communication with the internal chamber of the indirect-fired oven;
- directing gas combustion products into the internal chamber of the indirect-fired oven, the gas combustion products chemically reacting with a coating on the components, thereby improving adhesion;
- and
- balancing a mass flow rate of gas through the internal chamber of the indirect-fired oven.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.