Electric induction gas-sealed tunnel furnace

摘要

An electric induction gas-sealed tunnel furnace and process are provided. The exterior of the furnace's enclosure that forms a closed tunnel region is surrounded at least along its longitudinal length by a gas-tight barrier chamber that can be filled with a barrier gas to a different pressure than the pressure of the process gas in the closed tunnel region of the furnace. The inductors used to induction heat strips or plates in the closed tunnel region can be positioned within or outside of the gas-tight barrier chamber around the longitudinal length of the closed tunnel region.

主权项

1. An electric induction gas-sealed tunnel furnace comprising:
a furnace enclosure forming a closed tunnel region along a longitudinal length of the furnace enclosure through which a workpiece passes through for induced heating, the closed tunnel region of the furnace enclosure having a workpiece entry end and a workpiece exit end; a furnace enclosure entry end flange located at the workpiece entry end and a furnace enclosure exit end flange located at the workpiece exit end; an induction coil disposed around the longitudinal length of the closed tunnel region of the furnace enclosure;an improvement comprising:
a barrier material forming a gas-tight barrier chamber around an exterior of the longitudinal length of the furnace enclosure, the barrier material having a sealed entry end interface with the furnace enclosure entry end flange and a sealed exit end interface with the furnace enclosure exit end flange, the sealed entry end interface with the furnace enclosure entry end flange being formed by extending a first furnace enclosure end between a first barrier material end and the furnace enclosure entry end flange, the first furnace enclosure end between the first barrier material end and the furnace enclosure entry end flange forming a furnace enclosure-entry end flange sealed interface; and the sealed exit end interface with the furnace enclosure exit end flange being formed by extending a second furnace enclosure end between a second barrier material end and the furnace enclosure exit end flange, the second furnace enclosure end between the second barrier material end and the furnace enclosure exit end flange forming a furnace enclosure-exit end flange sealed interface.