Support structure for heating element coil
AssigneeSandvik Thermal Process, Inc.
InventorKevin B. Peck
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Spacer for a vertical support structure of a heating element coil includes a mating feature including complimentary components on first opposing sides of the spacer, a cavity, open to second opposing sides of the spacer, and an extension offset from an axis intersecting the mating features, the extension including a pocket sized to fit an individual loop of the heating element coil. The spacer can be incorporated into a support structure for a heating element coil interlocking adjacent loops of the coil so that they are retained in a collinear and concentric arrangement while allowing the loops of the coil to move freely inward and outward from the central axis in unison.
Claims26
A support structure for a heating element coil interlocking adjacent loops of the coil so that they are retained in a collinear and concentric arrangement while allowing the loops of the coil to move freely inward and outward from the central axis in unison, the support structure comprising:
- a plurality of vertical support column assemblies, each positioned around a circumference of the heating element coil,
- wherein each vertical support column assembly includes a plurality of individual spacers having a pitch, at least a portion of the vertical support column assembly residing at least partially inside a vertical channel of a stationary rail,
- wherein adjacent spacers include cooperating mating features and cooperating pocket forming features, the pocket forming features forming a pocket to enclose a loop of the coil, and
- wherein the vertical support column assembly moves slideably within the vertical channel in an axial direction parallel to the centerline and in a radial direction perpendicular to the centerline while cooperation of mating features on adjacent spacers are maintained.
A spacer for a vertical support structure of a heating element coil, comprising:
- a mating feature including complimentary components on first opposing sides of the spacer;
- a cavity, open to second opposing sides of the spacer;
- and
- an extension offset from an axis intersecting the mating features, the extension including a pocket sized to fit an individual loop of the heating element coil.
A method of controlling a position relative to a center position of a heating element coil upon heating, the method comprising:
- mounting individual loops of a heating element coil in a column of vertically stacked spacers,
- wherein an increase in a length of the heating element coil upon heating is accommodated by a radially outward movement of the spacers relative to the center position while cooperation of mating features on adjacent spacers are maintained.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.