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US 5,247,144 AGranted
Levitation heating method and levitation heating furnace
AssigneeMitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorToshio Abe
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A plasma lamp placed at the first focal point of an elliptical mirror spherically radiates, the light from the plasma lamp being reflected on said elliptical mirror so as to be spherically condensed to a specimen levitated by an electric field at the second focal point thereof. Thus, the specimen is uniformly heated under the levitated condition.
Claims30
A levitation heating method comprising the steps of:
- providing an elliptical mirror which has on its inner surface an elliptical reflection surface so as to provide first and second focal points;
- placing a spherical lamp at said first focal point so that light emitted from said spherical lamp is condensed at said second focal point, and
- levitating a specimen at said second focal point by generating an electric field by applying a voltage to electrodes which are arranged to be in confronting relation to each other, whereby the specimen is heated with the light condensed at the second focal point.
A levitation heating furnace comprising:
- an elliptical mirror which has an inner surface equipped with an elliptical reflection surface having first and second focal points;
- a plasma lamp placed at said first focal point of said elliptical mirror;
- a radio-wave shielding plate forming, in combination with a portion of the elliptical mirror, a resonator encasing said plasma lamp;
- means for receiving a current to be applied to said resonator;
- a specimen tube placed at said second focal point of said elliptical mirror;
- two pairs of ring-shaped electrodes which are disposed at the vicinity of the center of said specimen tube to be in confronting relation to each other;
- and
- means for coupling a signal to said ring-shaped electrodes.
5 more elements
A levitation heating furnace comprising:
- a first elliptical mirror which has an inner surface equipped with an elliptical reflection surface having first and second focal points;
- a second elliptical mirror having first and second focal points, said second elliptical mirror being arranged so that said second focal point thereof is positioned in common with respect to said second focal point of said first elliptical mirror;
- a plasma lamp placed at each of said first focal points of said first and second elliptical mirrors;
- a radio-wave shielding plate provided for each elliptical mirror and forming, in combination with each elliptical mirror, resonators respectively encasing each of said plasma lamps;
- means for receiving a current to be applied to said resonators;
- a specimen tube placed at said second focal points of said first and second elliptical mirrors;
- two pairs of ring-shaped electrodes which are disposed at the vicinity of the center of said specimen tube to be in confronting relation to each other;
- and
- means for coupling a voltage signal to said ring-shaped electrodes.
6 more elements
A levitation heating furnace comprising,
- an elliptical mirror having an inner elliptical reflection surface defining first and second focal points,
- a lamp disposed at said first focal point so that light emitted from said lamp is condensed at the second focal point,
- electrodes arranged to be in confronting relation to each other,
- means for applying a voltage to the electrodes to generate an electric field to levitate a specimen at the second focal point whereby the specimen is heated with the light condensed at the second focal point.
1 more element
A method for manufacturing a material in a microgravity environment, comprising the steps of:
- providing an elliptical mirror having an elliptical reflection surface so as to provide first and second focal points;
- levitating a specimen from which the material is to be made at a position corresponding to said second focal point;
- illuminating a spherical lamp disposed at a position corresponding to said first focal point, thereby heating the specimen;
- and
- terminating illumination of the spherical lamp at an appropriate time.
2 more elements
A method for heating a specimen in a microgravity environment, comprising the steps of:
- providing an elliptical mirror having an elliptical reflection surface so as to provide first and second focal points;
- levitating the specimen to be heated at a condition corresponding to said second focal point;
- illuminating a spherical lamp disposed at a position corresponding to said first focal point, thereby heating the specimen.
A levitation heating furnace comprising:
- a first elliptical mirror which has an inner surface equipped with an electrical reflection surface having first and second focal points;
- a second elliptical mirror having first and second focal points, the second elliptical mirror being arranged so that its second focal point is substantially the same as the second focal point of the first elliptical mirror;
- a spherical lamp placed at each of the first focal points of the first and second elliptical mirrors;
- and
- a levitator for positioning a specimen at the common second focal points.
2 more elements
A levitation heating furnace comprising:
- an elliptical mirror having an inner elliptical reflection surface defining first and second focal points;
- a lamp disposed at the first focal point so that light emitted from the lamp is condensed at the second focal point;
- a levitator for levitating a specimen at the second focal point;
- and
- a radio-wave shielding plate forming, in combination with the elliptical mirror, a resonator encasing said lamp.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.