Muffle convection brazing and annealing system and method

摘要

A temperature control system (150) for obtaining a desired soak temperature of a workpiece (81) driven through the brazing and annealing system (1) includes a convection muffle (44) for heating the work piece (81) within a brazing zone (45a) of the brazing and annealing system (1). The temperature control system (150) also includes a first thermocouple (170) positioned above the workpiece (81) and measures a first real-time temperature of an atmospheric convection current directed towards the workpiece before the workpiece (81) absorbs heat from the atmospheric convection current. A second thermocouple (180) is positioned beneath the workpiece (81) and measures a second real-time temperature of the atmospheric convection current after the workpiece (81) has absorbed the heat from the atmospheric convection current. The temperature control system (150) also includes a controller (160) that adjusts a brazing temperature of the atmospheric convection current directed toward the workpiece (81) based on a temperature difference between the first and second real-time temperatures measured by the first and second thermocouples (170, 180). When the first and second real-time temperatures correspond to the desired soak temperature, a timer (165) can be initiated to soak the workpiece (81) at the desired soak temperature for a predetermined amount of time. <IMAGE>