Inspection assembly for a furnace environment

A method of obtaining preselected information in a furnace environment in a chamber in which a process material is subjected to a process, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing an inspection assembly comprising:
• at least one inspection device for obtaining the preselected information, said at least one inspection device defining an aperture through which the preselected information is obtainable;
• a barrel subassembly extending between first and second ends thereof, the barrel subassembly comprising:
• an inner barrel having a first wall defining an inner bore, and a second wall located radially outwardly relative to the first wall;
• an outer barrel positioned coaxially with the inner barrel, the outer barrel having an inside wall that defines at least one outer annular space between the second wall and the inside wall of the outer barrel, said at least one outer annular space extending between outer upstream and outer downstream ends thereof;
• said at least one inspection device being located at least partially inside the inner barrel to at least partially align the aperture thereof with the inner bore, wherein the preselected information is obtainable via the aperture and through the inner bore;
• (b) locating the second end of the barrel subassembly to position said at least one outer annular space in fluid communication with the chamber;
• (c) directing a first portion of at least one gas through said at least one outer annular space at at least one preselected velocity to cool the inspection assembly, said at least one gas forming an outer annular gas stream coaxial with the inner bore upon exiting from the outer downstream end;
• and
• (d) obtaining the preselected information through the aperture, via the inner bore.

An inspection assembly for obtaining preselected information in a furnace environment in a chamber in which a process material is subjected to a process, the inspection assembly comprising:

• at least one inspection device for detecting the preselected information, said at least one inspection device defining an aperture through which the preselected information is detectable;
• a barrel subassembly extending between first and second ends thereof, the barrel subassembly comprising:
• an inner barrel having a first wall defining an inner bore, and a second wall located radially outwardly relative to the first wall;
• an outer barrel positioned coaxially with the inner barrel;
• the barrel subassembly defining at least one inner annular space between the first wall and said at least one inspection device extending between inner upstream and inner downstream ends thereof;
• said at least one inspection device being located at least partially inside the inner barrel to at least partially align the aperture thereof with the inner bore, wherein the preselected information is obtainable via said at least one inspection device through the inner bore;
• the second end of the barrel subassembly is located to position said at least one inner annular space and the inner bore respectively in fluid communication with the chamber;
• and
• the barrel subassembly being configured for directing at least one gas through said at least one inner annular space at at least one preselected velocity to cool the inspection assembly, wherein said at least one gas forms an inner annular gas stream coaxial with the inner bore upon exiting from the outer downstream end, and wherein the preselected information is obtainable via the aperture and through the inner bore.

A method of obtaining preselected information in a furnace environment in a chamber in which a process material is subjected to a process, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing an inspection assembly comprising:
• at least one inspection device for obtaining the preselected information, said at least one inspection device defining an aperture through which the preselected information is obtainable;
• a barrel subassembly extending between first and second ends thereof, the barrel subassembly comprising:
• an inner barrel having a first wall defining an inner bore, and a second wall located radially outwardly relative to the first wall;
• an outer barrel positioned coaxially with the inner barrel, the barrel subassembly defining at least one inner annular space between the first wall and said at least one inspection device extending between inner upstream and inner downstream ends thereof;
• said at least one inspection device being located at least partially inside the inner barrel to at least partially align the aperture thereof with the inner bore, wherein the preselected information is obtainable via the aperture and through the inner bore;
• (b) locating the second end of the barrel subassembly to position said at least one inner annular space in fluid communication with the chamber;
• (c) directing at least one gas through said at least one outer annular space at at least one preselected velocity to cool the inspection assembly, said at least one gas forming an inner annular gas stream coaxial with the inner bore upon exiting from the outer downstream end;
• and
• (d) obtaining the preselected information through the aperture, via the inner bore.