The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 12, 1988
Filed:
Aug. 21, 1986
Howard J Obman, Telford, PA (US);
Howard D Brodbeck, Berwyn, PA (US);
MG Industries, Valley Forge, PA (US);
Abstract
A vacuum furnace is cooled in a two-step process. In the first step, a noble gas is injected into the furnace to break the vacuum, and to provide initial cooling. In the second step, a non-noble, but relatively inert, gas is injected into the furnace to complete the cooling. The flow of the noble gas is cut off when the temperature in the furnace falls below the point at which the contents of the furnace will no longer react with the second gas. The invention also discloses apparatus for cooling the furnace. Temperature controllers monitor the temperature, and rate of temperature change, in the furnace, and direct controlled amounts of noble or non-noble gas into the furnace. At no time is a liquefied gas allowed to enter the furnace. The process allows the furnace to be cooled rapidly but safely, minimizing the danger of thermal shock to the internal furnace components.