Moveable heat exchanger
AssigneeNitrex Metal Inc.
InventorsMichel J. Korwin, Janusz Szymborski
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed is a moveable heat exchanger for use with a high temperature chamber, such as for instance a nitriding furnace. The heat exchanger is between a first position external to the furnace, and a second position in which the heat exchanger projects substantially into the furnace through an opening in a wall surface of the furnace. In use, the heat exchanger is in the first position during a high temperature portion of a process and is in the second position during a cooling portion subsequent to the high temperature portion of the process. The heat exchanger sealingly engages the wall surface about its periphery to prevent the exchange of atmospheric components in either direction between the interior of the furnace and the outside.
Claims22
A method for cooling a workpiece within a high-temperature chamber comprising the steps of:
- a) heating the workpiece;
- and,
- b) moving a moveable heat exchanger into the high-temperature chamber, such that a cooling rate of the workpiece is achieved that is relatively faster than a cooling rate obtained absent the moveable heat exchanger.
An apparatus for cooling a workpiece within a high-temperature chamber comprising:
- a heat exchanger moveable between a first position in which the heat exchanger is thermally isolated from a gas atmosphere contained within the high-temperature chamber and a second position in which the heat exchanger is in thermal communication with the gas atmosphere;
- an actuator operatively coupled to the heat exchanger for moving selectively the heat exchanger between the first position and second position through a port of the high-temperature chamber;
- and,
- a seal disposed between opposing surfaces of the heat exchanger and the port for substantially containing the gas atmosphere within the high temperature chamber.
A heat treatment system comprising:
- a moveable heat exchanger;
- a high-temperature chamber having a port through a wall surface thereof for sealingly engaging an opposing surface of the heat exchanger and for permitting at least a portion of the heat exchanger to be removeably inserted within the high-temperature chamber, and having at least an orifice in communication with an atmosphere control system for providing a gas atmosphere with a predetermined composition;
- an actuator operatively coupled to the heat exchanger for relatively moving the heat exchanger to the high-temperature chamber to selectively insert the at least a portion of the heat exchanger through the port;
- a process controller in electrical communication with the actuator for providing to the actuator a first control signal for controlling the movement of the heat exchanger,
- wherein, in use, the heat exchanger is in thermal communication with the gas atmosphere when inserted in the high-temperature chamber and thermally isolated from the gas atmosphere when removed from the high-temperature chamber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.