# US 2015/0147709 A1 · Heat treatment method, heat-treating furnace, and heat treatment system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2015/0147709 A1 - Document ID: US20150147709A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/405,975 - Filed: 2013-06-04 - Published: 2015-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2012-06-08 - Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Keisuke Isomura; Shinya Mizuno; Noriyuki Ueno; Takehito Kobayashi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20150147709A1 ## CPC - B09B 3/45: Steam treatment, e.g. supercritical water gasification or oxidation - B09B 3/40: involving thermal treatment, e.g. evaporation (processes using mineral binders involving a melting or softening step B09B3/29; involving radiation B09B3/50) - B09B 3/50: involving radiation, e.g. electro-magnetic waves - F27B 17/00: Furnaces of a kind not covered by any of groups F27B1/00 - F27B15/00 (structural combinations of furnaces F27B19/02) - F27B 17/0016: {Chamber type furnaces} - F27D 7/02: Supplying steam, vapour, gases or liquids - F27D 21/04: Arrangement of indicators or alarms - B09B: DISPOSAL OF SOLID WASTE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - F27B: FURNACES, KILNS, OVENS OR RETORTS IN GENERAL; OPEN SINTERING OR LIKE APPARATUS - F27D: DETAILS OR ACCESSORIES OF FURNACES, KILNS, OVENS OR RETORTS, IN SO FAR AS THEY ARE OF KINDS OCCURRING IN MORE THAN ONE KIND OF FURNACE ## Abstract A work is subjected to a heat treatment in a heat-treating furnace. First, the work is carried into the heat-treating furnace. The work in the heat-treating furnace is immersed in a heat source solvent. In the heat-treating furnace, a superheated steam atmosphere is formed. The work is exposed in the heat-treating furnace under the superheated steam atmosphere. Then, the work is carried out of the heat-treating furnace. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A heat treatment method for subjecting a work to a heat treatment in a heat-treating furnace, comprising: carrying the work into the heat-treating furnace; immersing the work in the heat-treating furnace in a heat source solvent that is heated before the immersing; forming a superheated steam atmosphere in the heat-treating furnace; exposing the work in the heat-treating furnace under the superheated steam atmosphere; and carrying the work out of the heat-treating furnace. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The heat treatment method according to claim 1, wherein the heat source solvent is water, or a solvent containing water. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The heat treatment method according to claim 1, wherein the work is exposed under the superheated steam atmosphere after being immersed in the heat source solvent. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The heat treatment method according to claim 2, wherein the superheated steam atmosphere is formed from the heat source solvent by further heating the heat source solvent after the work is immersed in the heat source solvent. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The heat treatment method according to claim 1, wherein the superheated steam atmosphere is formed in the heat-treating furnace while the work is immersed in the heat source solvent. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The heat treatment method according to claim 1, further comprising immersing the work in the heat source solvent to cool the work before carrying the work out of the heat-treating furnace and after exposing the work under the superheated steam atmosphere. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The heat treatment method according to claim 1, further comprising heating the work by far-infrared rays. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The heat treatment method according to claim 1, wherein the work is a lithium-ion secondary battery. ### Claim 9 A heat-treating furnace for subjecting a work to a heat treatment, the heat-treating furnace being connected to a solvent supply device that is configured to supply a heat source solvent into the heat-treating furnace, the heat-treating furnace comprising: a housing that is configured to accommodate the work and is equipped with a space, the space being configured to seal gas; a heating unit that is configured to heat the heat source solvent to fill the space with a superheated steam; an exhaust port that is connected to the housing and is configured to discharge gas present in the space from the housing; and a solvent control unit that is configured to immerse the work in the heat source solvent heated by the heating unit and to expose, when the space is filled with the superheated steam, the work from the heat source solvent. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The heat-treating furnace according to claim 9, wherein the heat source solvent is water, or a solvent containing water. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The heat-treating furnace according to claim 10, wherein the heating unit includes a steam generation heater, the solvent control unit includes a solvent storage tank that is configured to store the heat source solvent, and the steam generation heater heats the heat source solvent stored in the solvent storage tank to generate steam from the heat source solvent. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The heat-treating furnace according to claim 9, wherein the heating unit further includes a far-infrared ray radiation unit. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The heat-treating furnace according to claim 9, wherein the heat-treating furnace is connected to a gas detector that is configured to detect that an interior of the heat-treating furnace has become a superheated steam atmosphere. ### Claim 14 A heat treatment system comprising: a heat-treating furnace that includes a housing, a solvent storage tank and a steam generation heater, wherein the housing is configured to accommodate a work, the solvent storage tank is configured to store a heat source solvent containing water, and the steam generation heater is configured to heat the heat source solvent stored in the solvent storage tank to generate steam in the housing; an out-of-furnace tank that is provided outside the heat-treating furnace and is connected to the solvent storage tank by a flow channel; and a solvent supply device that is configured to move the heat source solvent between the out-of-furnace tank and the solvent storage tank via the flow channel to immerse the work in the heat source solvent or expose the work from the heat source solvent.