Autoclave Engineers, Ltd.

Snap-tite, Inc.

Hughes Aircraft Company

Charles W Smith

Franz X Zimmerman

Larry R Rosio

Stephen H Shore

William H Walker

Richard K Reber

Richard J Mielnik

John A Metalonis

Robert F Ruyak

Thomas B Stanford

Francis V Marchal

James A Karle

Joseph W Wieger

Paul J Lipiec

An apparatus for precision cleaning with carbon dioxide includes a pressure vessel having a removable cleaning drum with a sanitized work zone. The sanitized work zone is defined by an impermeable drum body having a removable exit filter to ensure that circulating cleaning fluid does not redeposit contaminants on the parts. The carbon dioxide is maintained in liquid form in the storage vessel, raised above its critical temperature by the preheater, pumped into the pressure vessel to achieve critical pressure, circulated through the work zone for a predetermined period of time, and removed through the let-down valve.

Apparatus for supercritical cleaning

A method for precision cleaning of a workpiece with a cleaning fluid comprising liquid and/or supercritical fluid carbon dioxide and a primary solvent which is liquid at ambient temperatures and pressures comprises first placing the workpiece in a pressurizable vessel with a removable lid and within an inner tank open at the top; supplying the primary solvent to the inner tank; flushing the primary solvent through the pressure vessel; draining the inner tank to remove the primary solvent; and then supplying liquid and/or supercritical fluid carbon dioxide to the pressure vessel and flushing it through the vessel by withdrawing it from near the bottom of the inner tank.

Precision cleaning vessel

Method of cleaning workpiece with solvent and then with liquid carbon

An improved precision cleaning method includes introducing a solvent to a cleaning vessel, placing a workpiece in the cleaning vessel and contacting the workpiece with the solvent during a residence period. The cleaning vessel is then pressurized to a target pressure by adding carbon dioxide to the vessel, and additional carbon dioxide is pumped into the vessel while maintaining the target pressure to flush contents of the vessel. Cleaning may be enhanced by pressurizing to above the supercritical point of the carbon dioxide, and cleaning is further enhanced by application of sonic energy or mechanical agitation.

Precision cleaning system

An apparatus for precision cleaning with carbon dioxide includes a pressure vessel having a removable cleaning drum with a sanitized work zone, a separator for regenerating spent carbon dioxide, and pressure and temperature monitoring and control devices to maintain the carbon dioxide in a supercritical state while it is circulated in contact with a part to be cleaned. The sanitized work zone is defined by an impermeable drum body having removable entry and exit filters to ensure that circulating cleaning fluid does not redeposit contaminants on the parts. The separator includes distillation means. The pressure vessel and separator form part of an overall system, including a storage vessel for carbon dioxide, a pump, a preheater, a let-down valve in communication with the pressure vessel outlet, a condenser and a bypass. The carbon dioxide is maintained in liquid form in the storage vessel, raised above its critical temperature by the preheater, pumped into the pressure vessel to achieve critical pressure, circulated through the work zone for a predetermined period of time, and removed through the let-down valve. The separator regenerates the carbon dioxide and carbon dioxide gas is then condensed and sent to the storage vessel for reuse.

An apparatus for applying ultrasonic energy in precision cleaning includes a pressure vessel having a plurality of sonic plates, with or without a rotary device located inside the vessel. The plates may be arranged centrally within the vessel to propagate sonic waves outward, or the plates may be located on an interior wall in the pressure vessel, directed inward. Each plate includes a plurality of sonic transducers, spaced along the longitudinal axis of the pressure vessel. The rotary device may include a plurality of arms carrying removable brush holders or a rotating parts basket. In either case, the device is driven by a motor mounted in a top cover of the pressure vessel. A liquid cleaning fluid, preferably carbon dioxide, is charged in the pressure vessel to submerge the sonic plates and workpieces secured in the pressure vessel. The transducers are then energized and the rotary device engaged to apply both sonic and mechanical agitation to the workpieces for enhanced removal of particulates. The sonic application may be preceded or followed by pressurization of the pressure vessel to above the supercritical pressure of the carbon dioxide for removing dissolvable contaminants from the workpieces.

Apparatus for applying ultrasonic energy in precision cleaning

An apparatus for gas pressure bonding, hot isostatic pressing or the like in which a workpiece may be treated at elevated temperatures and pressures comprises an elongate cylindrical pressure vessel for enclosing a furnace. The furnace comprises an insulated bottom and an insulated hood with openings near the top and bottom. The insulating hood rests upon the bottom for enclosing a workspace. Means for heating the workspace and means for cooling the pressure vessel are provided. The improvements according to this disclosure are means for establishing a first circulating flow of pressurized fluid down along the interior of the pressure vessel wall, means for establishing a second circulating flow of pressurized fluid down through the workspace. Heat exchange between the two circulating flows of pressurized fluid after the first flow has been cooled by flowing down along the interior wall of the pressure vessel and after the second flow has been heated by flowing down over the workpiece in the workspace provides for a unique temperature control in the workspace. The flow rate of at least one circulating flow of pressurized fluid is positively established by pumps or fans.

Rapid cool autoclave furnace

A high pressure gas/oil separator comprising a pressure vessel with a magnetically driven hollow shaft extending thereinto. The shaft has a slinger at its lower end within the vessel. The upper end of the shaft is in communication with a source of the gas/oil mixture. The vessel has a purified gas outlet above the slinger. Gas/oil mixture is thrown by centrifugal force against walls of the vessel and the oil coalesces on the walls and drains to the bottom of the vessel. The purified gas escapes from the vessel through the outlet port.

Gas/oil separator

An apparatus or system for cooling the interior of an autoclave furnace vessel after it has been pressurized with a gas and heated. The system comprises a heat conducting conduit opening at one end to the furnace interior and at the other end to a shut-off valve exterior to the vessel. Intermediate the two ends of the conduit is a coil portion comprising a heat exchanger positioned at a location in the furnace where hot vessel gases may be forced through or past the coil. Furnace gases are forced into the conduit and therefore through the coiled portion where they are heated prior to being exhausted. According to a preferred embodiment of this invention, there is a Joule-Thomson valve before the coiled portion of the conduit to reduce the temperature of the exhausting gases prior to arriving at the coiled portion.

Autoclave furnace with cooling system

Apparatus for treating a workpiece at elevated temperatures both under vacuum and under superatmospheric pressures to provide for vacuum sintering and hot isostatic pressing in the same apparatus. The apparatus according to this invention comprises a vacuum-pressure vessel and a furnace within the vessel having a pedestal upon which the hearth rests extending up into the furnace. A first electrical heating means spaced about the pedestal is entirely below the hearth. At least one second electrical heating means is spaced about the workspace above the hearth. Means for separately controlling the first and second electrical heating elements are provided. The furnace can provide substantial uniform temperature distribution to the workpiece resting upon the hearth when the vessel is evacuated by direct radiation from the electrical heating means above the hearth. When the vessel is pressurized, uniform temperature distribution is maintained by convection from the electrical heating means below the hearth.

Apparatus for vacuum sintering and hot isostatic pressing

A pressure vessel comprising a cylindrical stress liner, a pair of end plates, a plurality of annular shrink rings positioned about the circumference of the stress liner, and a plurality of coolant-filled annular cooling coils positioned about the shrink rings is disclosed. Nonuniform stress producing bending stresses in the shrink rings are eliminated by the method comprising the steps for detecting a stress concentration in a shrink ring and causing coolant to be recirculated from a reservoir through the coil about the shrink ring.

Method and apparatus for cooling a pressure vessel

This invention relates to an electric furnace and, in particular, an electric furnace having graphite rod heating elements electrically connected into more than one series circuit. In this way, the heating elements can be arranged to provide individually controllable heating zones. The heating elements are supported by hollow graphite cylinders and flanges extending radially inward from the hollow cylinders. The rod heating elements extend upwardly from the flanges being held near the lower ends thereof.

Multizone graphite heating element furnace

An apparatus for treating a workpiece at elevated temperatures and pressures comprising an elongate cylindrical pressure vessel. Within the pressure vessel a hearth sits upon a pedestal. Heating elements are circumferentially spaced about the hearth. A heat insulating hood separates the workpiece from the pressure vessel. A cylindrical reflecting shield separates the heating element from the insulating hood.

High pressure autoclave

An apparatus for treating a workpiece at elevated temperatures and pressures comprising an elongate cylindrical pressure vessel. Within the pressure vessel a hearth sits upon a pedestal. Surrounding the pedestal and the workspace immediately thereabove is an insulated furnace enclosure. A cavity near the base of the pedestal defines an impeller chamber. An impeller is positioned in the chamber and has a downwardly extending drive shaft. The impeller circulates the pressurized atmosphere. A remotely actuated gate directs the circulating atmosphere to either circulate totally within the furnace enclosure or partially within the furnace enclosure and partially along the interior wall of the pressure vessel.

Growing community of inventors

Fairview, PA, United States of America

Charles W Smith