High-temperature belt furnace apparatus and method of using same
AssigneeCentorr/Vacuum Industries, Inc.
InventorCharles W. Miller, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
High-temperature belt-type furnace apparatus utilizing a silicon carbide continuous belt design is disclosed.
Claims30
An apparatus for high-temperature material processing of articles weighing about one-half pound or more comprising in combination:
- (a) insulated housing means defining an interior compartment, said housing means further comprising inlet and outlet means;
- (b) at least a heating zone located in said interior compartment;
- (c) continuous belt means consisting essentially of interlocking links of sintered silicon carbide capable of supporting a load of about one-half pound or more without significant belt distortion at temperatures above about 1200.degree. C., wherein said belt means enters said housing means through said inlet means, passes through said heating zone, and exits said housing means through said outlet means;
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- (d) variable-speed drive means for regulating the speed of said belt means.
In a high-temperature furnace apparatus designed to operate at peak temperatures of at least 1200.degree. C., the improvement comprising an externally-driven continuous belt consisting essentially of interlocking links of sintered silicon carbide capable of supporting a load of about one-half pound or more without significant belt distortion, said belt passing through the interior of said furnace along a generally horizontal plane.
An apparatus for high-temperature material processing of articles weighing about one-half pound or more comprising in combination:
- (a) insulated housing means defining an interior compartment having carbon sidewalls, said housing means further comprising inlet and outlet means;
- (b) at least a heating zone located in said interior compartment;
- (c) continuous belt means consisting essentially of interlocking links of sintered silicon carbide capable of supporting a load of about one-half pound or more without significant belt distortion at temperatures above about 1200.degree. C., wherein said belt means enters said housing means through said inlet means, passes through said heating zone, and exits said housing means through said outlet means;
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- (d) variable-speed drive means for regulating the speed of said belt means.
A method of thermally treating an article having a weight of about one-half pound or more at temperatures above about 1200.degree. C. comprising the steps of:
- placing said article on a portion of a moving, continuous conveyer belt consisting essentially of interlocking links of sintered silicon carbide;
- passing said article and said belt portion at a controlled speed through a sequence of at least two progressively hotter heating zones so as to heat said article and said belt portion to a temperature above about 1200.degree. C. in the hottest of said heating zones;
- and, passing said article and said belt portion at a controlled speed through a sequence of one or more progressively cooler heating zones, each maintained at a temperature intermediate between that of said hottest heating zone and ambient conditions so as to cool said article.
A method of thermally treating an article having a weight of about one-half pound or more at temperatures above about 1200.degree. C. comprising the steps of:
- placing said article on a portion of a moving, continuous conveyer belt consisting essentially of interlocking links of sintered silicon carbide;
- passing said article and said belt portion at a controlled speed through a furnace interior defined by carbon walls, said furnace interior comprising a sequence of at least two progressively hotter heating zones so as to heat said article and said belt portion to a temperature above about 1200.degree. C. in the hottest of said heating zones;
- and, passing said article and said belt portion at a controlled speed through a sequence of one or more progressively cooler heating zones, each maintained at a temperature intermediate between that of said hottest heating zone and ambient conditions so as to cool said article.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.