Fiber oxidation oven with multiple independently controllable heating systems
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorHans L. Melgaard
Life of this patent
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Abstract
One embodiment is directed to an oven for heating fibers. The oven comprises a plurality of walls forming a chamber and a supply structure disposed within the chamber between first and second ends of the chamber. The supply structure is in communication with a first heating system and is configured to direct heated gas from the first heating system into a first portion of the chamber. The supply structure is in communication with a second heating system and is configured to direct heated gas from the second heating system into a second portion of the chamber.
Claims13
A method of heating fibers using an oven in which a chamber is formed, the method comprising:
- heating gas using a first heating system located outside of the chamber;
- heating gas using a second heating system located outside of the chamber;
- supplying the heated gas from the first heating system into an upper portion of the chamber to heat fibers in the upper portion of the chamber at a first temperature;
- and
- supplying the heated gas from the second heating system into a lower portion of the chamber to heat fibers in the lower portion of the chamber at a second temperature different than the first temperature such that the upper portion and the lower portion of the chamber maintain the different temperatures without a physical barrier between the upper portion and the lower portion of the chamber.
A method of heating fibers using a center-to-ends oven in which a chamber is formed, the method comprising:
- heating gas using a first heating system;
- heating gas using a second heating system;
- supplying the heated gas from the first heating system into an upper portion of the chamber from a center of the chamber towards opposite ends of the chamber to heat fibers in the upper portion of the chamber at a first temperature;
- and
- supplying the heated gas from the second heating system into a lower portion of the chamber from the center of the chamber towards the opposite ends of the chamber to heat fibers in the lower portion of the chamber at a second temperature different than the first temperature such that the upper portion and the lower portion of the chamber maintain the different temperatures without a physical barrier between the upper portion and the lower portion of the chamber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.