摘要 |
An autoclave for heat curing of fibre reinforced plastics articles includes a pressure and vacuum tight tank structure (10, 12) having exposed internal heat exchange tubes (24) forming two or more loops through which gas can flow in isolation from the interior of the autoclave. The gas flow loops open to the outside of the furnace and are fed with hot gas from gas burners (34) at their inlet ends, the hot gas being drawn through the tubes (24) by impellers (36) at their discharge ends. The gas within the autoclave is circulated by a fan (40). The autoclave has the advantage that the burners (34) and other moving parts (36, 38) are outside the autoclave and so are accessible in the event of failure which is significant in the processing of high value materials such as carbon fibre. It is of simple construction but provides highly accurate temperature control. |