Caterpillar Tractor Co.

Merle D Lee

Maurice L Caudill

A vacuum induction furnace including a crucible, a gas-impervious vessel at least partially surrounding the crucible and including sealable means for obtaining access to the crucible, an electrical current-carrying coil assembly surrounding the remainder of the crucible and sealed to the vessel, the coil assembly having coolant-carrying passages and an interior surface confronting the crucible. The surface is defined by plural interfaces of electrically conducting coils and interposed electrical insulators spacing the coils and having irregularities therein. A seal seals the interior surface of the assembly and includes a layer of gas-impervious, elastomeric material reinforced by a nonelectrically conducting reinforcing matrix embedded in the layer, the elastomeric material of the layer being bonded to the coils and insulators and filling the irregularities therein. A layer of heat insulating material is interposed between the crucible and the seal. Also disclosed is a method of sealing the coil assembly.

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Washington, IL, United States of America

Merle D Lee