US 2013/0092299 A1 · HEAT TREATING APPARATUSES HAVING A MAGNETIC DRIVE SYSTEM AND RELATED METHODS

Abstract

Embodiments of methods for vacuum heat treating refractory metal articles (e.g., implantable medical devices), and heat treating apparatuses for use in such methods are disclosed. Heat treating refractory metal articles under high vacuum (e.g., 10−6 Torr) may improve strength and ductility and remove material contaminants (e.g., oxygen or hydrogen) that may be absorbed during manufacturing processes. Heat treating methods include disposing a refractory metal article in a heat treating apparatus, drawing a vacuum therein, and moving the article to a heated zone in the furnace using a drive system that permits movement of the article while the vacuum is maintained in the apparatus. A heat treating apparatus may include an elongate furnace tube that may be sealed and placed under vacuum, a heating element disposed around at least a portion of the tube, and a drive system configured for moving articles disposed inside the furnace tube while under vacuum.

Claims29

Dependent claims

A heat treating apparatus for heat treating a refractory metal article, comprising:

a guide tube defining a guide tube passageway;
a furnace tube fluidly coupled to the guide tube and defining a furnace-tube passageway in communication with the guide tube passageway;
a heating element disposed around at least a portion of the furnace tube, the heating element defining a heated zone in a first portion of the furnace tube having the heating element disposed therearound and the heating element defining an unheated zone in a second portion of the furnace tube outside the heating zone;
a guide rod structure including a proximal portion and a distal portion configured to support the refractory metal article;
and
a magnetic drive system configured to move the guide rod structure axially within the guide tube passageway and the furnace-tube passageway to position the refractory metal article within the heated zone while a partial vacuum environment is maintained inside the guide tube and the furnace tube.

3 more elements

A method for moving a refractory metal article in a vacuum environment, comprising:

providing a heat treating apparatus configured for heat treating a refractory metal article under a partial vacuum, the heat treating apparatus including:
a guide tube defining a guide tube passageway and a furnace tube defining a furnace tube passageway, the guide tube and the furnace tube being fluidly coupled and configured to contain a partial vacuum environment therein;
a heating element disposed around at least a portion of the furnace tube;
and
a magnetic drive system disposed in the guide tube and the furnace tube;
disposing a refractory metal article within the heat treating apparatus on the magnetic drive system;
advancing the refractory metal article from a first portion of the heat treating apparatus to a second portion of the heat treating apparatus using the magnetic drive system while maintaining a partial vacuum therein;
and
retracting the refractory metal article from the second portion of the heat treating apparatus to the first portion of the heat treating apparatus using the magnetic drive system while maintaining the partial vacuum therein.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Heat treating apparatuses having a magnetic drive system and related methods

Life of this patent

Heat treating apparatuses having a magnetic drive system and related methods

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims29