Abb Flakt, Inc.

Thomas E Owens

Leif E Josefsson

Robert D Proctor

Roger A Thomas

Peter Varga

An oven module for use in industrial baking applications is disclosed having apparatus for accommodating the longitudinal thermal expansion in the interior walls of the oven module located intermediate the ends of the module. The oven module is easily assembled into an oven baking line because its ends are fixed and do not vary due to thermal expansion. Therefore, the present oven module alleviates numerous disadvantages in the shipping and assembly of an oven baking line which has been experienced with prior known oven modules. The floor, walls and roof of the oven module have both an interior and an exterior structure so that the interior surfaces of the oven module can be independently and rigidly supported. At opposite ends of the module, the interior and exterior structures for the floor, walls and roof are fixed to a common support member. Because the interior surfaces are fixed at opposite ends of the oven module, longitudinal thermal expansion therein is directed inward, toward thermal expansion joints which are located intermediate opposite ends of the module. Also included in the present invention is an improved explosion relief arrangement which contributes to the overall rigidity of the oven module while still meeting the requirements for explosion relief of the oven module.

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Sterling Heights, MI, United States of America

Thomas E Owens