Robert John Daley

US Patent:

20140042678, Feb 13, 2014

Filed:

Aug 13, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/573001

Inventors:

Robert J. Wilson - Warrington PA, US
Robert F. Daley - Jim Thorpe PA, US

International Classification:

C21D 1/773
C21D 1/62

US Classification:

266250

Abstract:

A vacuum furnace for heat treating and rapid gas quenching insitu a work piece at pressures up to 20 Bar and high gas velocities. The furnace comprises a single chamber having an inner portion including a plurality of graphite heating elements and graphite insulation, an outer portion and an access door. Further included are movable radiation baffle doors. In their closed position hot gases heat treat the work piece. In their open position the hot gases escape through the opening created onto chevron-shaped baffles in the outer portion which reflect radiation heat energy back into the inner portion and diffuse only convective heat energy into a heat exchanger and a variable speed drive recirculating fan. The recirculating fan directs the cooling gases through cooling nozzles onto the work piece to quench it to a pre-programmed temperature.