Vacuum sintering and hot isostatic pressing in the same vessel

摘要

An apparatus for heating a workpiece at elevated temperatures both under vacuum and under superatmospheric pressures comprises a vacuum pressure vessel comprising a cylindrical pressure shell having an inner cylindrical sealing face near the upper edge thereof and a cover at one axial end and a bottom plug at the other axial end. Both are arranged to be placed within a reaction frame bearing thereupon. A furnace within the shell has an insulating hood for protecting the shell from the heated workspace. A vacuum manifold is mounted to the top edge of the cylindrical shell and is sealed thereto. The manifold has a cylindrical interior through which the cover passes and an inner cylindrical sealing face at the upper end thereof. Mechanically powered means are provided for raising and lowering the cover and placing it in a first or a second position. Means associated with the cover provide an interior vacuum seal between the cover and the inner cylindrical sealing face on the manifold when the cover is in the first position, and form an interior pressure seal with the inner cylindrical sealing face on the cylindrical shell when the cover is in the second position. A port in the manifold is exposed to the interior of the vessel when the cover is in the first position. The port has a cross sectional area of at least eight square inches.