US 5,017,131 AGranted

Atmosphere furnace

AssigneeMatsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

InventorsSyoji Sato, Yutaka Makino, Kazumi Ishimoto, Yasuo Izumi

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Abstract

An atmosphere furnace including a plurality of divided furnace units, work transfer devices connecting the adjacent divided furnace units and those for the divided furnace units at both ends of the furnace. Each transfer device includes a tubular connecting frame and a work transfer member housed therein and the work transfer member has a work housing space in it. The work transfer member is rotatable, receives at a first position the work from outside or from an adjacent divided furnace unit into its work housing space, and send it out of the furnace or pass it to the adjacent divided furnace unit at a second position. When the work transfer member is at a middle position between the first and the second positions, the work housing space thereof faces an inner surface of the connecting frame so as to be sealed against the both end openings of the frame. Furthermore, it is provided with a channel for receiving the atmosphere from any divided furnace unit or outside space when the transfer member is at the middle position so as to have the work in the work housing space gradually heated or cooled through introduction of the atmosphere.

Claims6

Dependent claims

An atmosphere furnace comprising:

a plurality of divided furnace units different in atmospheric conditions and aligned,
a plurality of work transfer means arranged between said adjacent divided furnace units or between one of said divided furnace unit on either side and outside space, each transfer means comprising a connecting frame tubular and having on both sides thereof an inlet side and an outlet side openings opening in said adjacent divided furnace unit or the outside space;
and a transfer member housed in said connecting frame having formed therein a work housing space with one opening, said transfer member being rotatably housed with three alternative switching positions, namely a first work transfer position where said housing space opens in the inlet side opening of said connecting frame, a second work transfer position where it opens in said outlet side opening of said connecting frame and a middle position amid between said first work transfer position and said second work transfer position where said work housing space is closed facing an inner surface of said connecting frame;
and
an atmosphere introducing means which introduces atmosphere in any divided furnace unit or in outside space into said work housing space of said one divided furnace when said transfer member is at said middle position.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 07/545,891Filed 29 Jun 1990
Priority: JP 1-17014630 Jun 1989
Granted: 21 May 1991
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

F27B 9/24
The charge moving in a substantially straight path: being carried by a conveyor
F27B 9/028
Of multiple-track type; of multiple-chamber type; Combinations of furnaces: multi-chamber type furnaces,
F27B 9/04
Furnaces through which the charge is moved mechanically, e.g. of tunnel type ; Similar furnaces in which the charge moves by gravity: adapted for…
F27D 2003/0061
Comprising tracks, e.g. rails and wagon: with means for changing track