Harper International Corporation

Haper International Corp.

Carl Vander Weide

Edward V McCormick

Bruce J Dover

A purge chamber for providing a controlled atmosphere for the treatment of materials comprises a housing within which materials to be treated may be passed through and subjected to a cross-flow of purging gas entering and exiting through a multiplicity of inlets and outlets positioned along the length of the housing. Exiting gas may be recycled and re-entered in combination with fresh gas. In practice, materials to be treated may be conveyed through the chamber while the atmosphere surrounding the materials is continuously exchanged. Flapper doors, spanning the width of the chamber, are positioned along the path of travel of the materials being treated to direct the cross-flow of purging gas and prevent the entry of unwanted gases.

Purge chamber

A rotary tube furnace suitable for operation in controlled atmospheres at temperatures in the range of 1500.degree. to 2800.degree. comprises a generally horizontal rotatable graphite tube slidably supported on water-cooled split ring graphite bearings. The graphite tube is rotated by means of a stainless steel drive plate and is contained within a flexible atmospheric sealing assembly and enclosure for the containment of a selected atmosphere around and within the tube and allows for the co-current or counter-current flow of gas during operation. Radiation baffles in the interior of the graphite tube inhibit radiant heat loss at the ends of the tube. The graphite tube may be constructed in two or more sections having threaded ends for ease of installation as well as removal or replacement for maintenance purposes. A heating section of the tube is heated by a plurality of graphite electrical heating elements contained within an insulated heating chamber.

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Lockport, NY, United States of America

Carl Vander Weide