Load support diffuser

Claim 2

A load support diffuser for supporting stacked coils in an annealing furnace comprising a baseplate having a vertical axis; said baseplate comprising a single piece of flat plate metal; a plurality of flow divider members carried on the upper surface of said baseplate, certain of said members having inner ends defining a central opening adapted to receive a blower; each said member comprising a plurality of substantially straight, relatively angled portions each of which is skewed with respect to a true radius of said diffuser in the same circumferential direction; flat support bars carried on the upper surfaces of said members whereby each said bar overlaps portions of more than one of said members; said members defining passages therebetween for directing flow of an atmosphere gas outwardly with respect to said load support for diffusing said gas within an annealing furnace said support bars having side edges tapering inwardly from the outer periphery of said diffuser; said support bars being circumferentially spaced from each other whereby portions of said passages are open at the top for directing the atmosphere gas across the end of a coil seated upon said support bars.

Claim 3

A load support diffuser as set forth in claim 1: outwardly and upwardly angled deflector plates disposed between and adjacent to the outer ends of said passages to deflect the gas upwardly at the outer periphery of said load support diffuser.

Claim 4

A load support diffuser as set forth in claim 1: each said bar-overlapping portions of at least three of said flow divider members.

Claim 5

A load support diffuser as set forth in claim 1: said certain flow divider members extending from said central opening substantially to the outer periphery of said baseplate; said certain members defining passages therebetween which substantially widen adjacent to said outer periphery; other flow divider members each comprising a plurality of substantially straight, relatively angled portions disposed within the widened portions of said passages and dividing said widened portions into branch passages.

Claim 6

A load support diffuser as set forth in claim 5: outwardly and upwardly angled flat deflector plates disposed at the outer ends of said branch passages to deflect the gas upwardly at the outer periphery of said diffuser.

Claim 7

A load support diffuser for supporting stacked coils in an annealing furnace comprising a baseplate having a vertical axis; a plurality of flow divider members carried on the upper surface of said baseplate, certain of said members having inner ends defining a central opening adapted to receive a blower; said members having portions skewed with respect to true radii of said diffuser; support bars carried on the upper surfaces of said members whereby each said bar overlaps portions of more than one of said members; said members defining passages therebetween for directing flow of an atmosphere gas outwardly with respect to said load support for diffusing said gas within an annealing furnace; said baseplate being circular in shape; a plurality of circumferentially evenly spaced centering lugs carried at the outer periphery of said baseplate said centering lugs projecting upwardly to substantially the level of the upper supporting surfaces of sAid bars; said centering lugs having upwardly converging outer surface portions adapted to guide a cylindrical cover downwardly into a substantially concentric position with respect to said diffuser.

Claim 8

A load support diffuser for supporting stacked coils in an annealing furnace comprising a baseplate having a vertical axis; a plurality of flow divider members carried on the upper surface of said baseplate, certain of said members having inner ends defining a central opening adapted to receive a blower; said members having portions skewed with respect to true radii of said diffuser; support bars carried on the upper surfaces of said members whereby each said bar overlaps portions of more than one of said members; said members defining passages therebetween for directing flow of an atmosphere gas outwardly with respect to said load support for diffusing said gas within an annealing furnace; said baseplate being circular in shape; a plurality of circumferentially evenly spaced centering lugs carried at the outer periphery of said baseplate said centering lugs projecting upwardly to substantially the level of the upper supporting surfaces of sAid bars; said centering lugs having upwardly converging outer surface portions adapted to guide a cylindrical cover downwardly into a substantially concentric position with respect to said diffuser.

Claim 9

A load support diffuser as set forth in claim 6: said 6: lugs being secured to outer end portions of selected flow divider members; each said lug being rounded inwardly toward the center of said diffuser at its upper end to guide the cover onto said outer surface portions.

Claim 10

A load support diffuser for supporting stacked coils in an annealing furnace comprising a baseplate having a vertical axis; a plurality of flow divider members carried on the upper surface of said baseplate, certain of said members having inner ends defining a central opening adapted to receive a blower; said members having portions skewed with respect to true radii of said diffuser; support bars carried on the upper surfaces of said members whereby each said bar overlaps portions of more than one of said members; said members defining passages therebetween for directing flow of an atmosphere gas outwardly with respect to said load support for diffusing said gas within an annealing furnace; said bars being circumferentially spaced whereby portions of said passages are open at the top for directing the atmosphere gas across the end of a coil seated upon said diffuser; flow-lifting ramps projecting laterally from one side of said certain flow divider members and extending from the inner ends of said certain members a substantial distance outwardly from the center of said diffuser and upwardly with respect to said baseplate whereby the radially outward flow of gas is diverted upwardly between said spaced bars and across the end of the coil.

Claim 11

A load support diffuser for supporting stacked coils in an annealing furnace comprising a baseplate having a vertical axis; a plurality of flow divider members carried on the upper surface of said baseplate, certain of said members having inner ends defining a central opening adapted to receive a blower; said members having portions skewed with respect to true radii of said diffuser; support bars carried on the upper surfaces of said members whereby each said bar overlaps portions of more than one of said members; said members defining passages therebetween for directing flow of an atmosphere gas outwardly with respect to said load support for diffusing said gas within an annealing furnace; said bars being circumferentially spaced whereby portions of said passages are open at the top for directing the atmosphere gas across the end of a coil seated upon said diffuser; flow-lifting ramps projecting laterally from one side of said certain flow divider members and extending from the inner ends of said certain members a substantial distance outwardly from the center of said diffuser and upwardly with respect to said baseplate whereby the radially outward flow of gas is diverted upwardly between said spaced bars and across the end of the coil.

Claim 12

A combined load support and diffuser for supporting an axially vertical stack of coils in an annealing furnace and diffusing protective atmosphere gas within said furnace, said load support comprising a baseplate; a plurality of flow divider members carried on the upper surface of said baseplate, said members being substantially skewed with respect to a radius of the baseplate in one circumferential direction; said members comprising circumferentially alternately disposed long and short dividers extending inwardly from adjacent to the outer edge of said baseplate; said long dividers having inner end portions defining a central opening adapted to receive a blower and being circumferentially spaced and providing passages therebetween which substantially widen adjacent to said outer edge for directing flow of an atmosphere gas outwardly with respect to said load support and diffusing said gas; said short dividers disposed within said widened portions of said passages and dividing said widened portions into branch passages; outwardly and upwardly angled deflector plates disposed at the outer ends of said branch passages to deflect the gas upwardly at said outer ends; support bars carried on the upper surfaces of said dividers, each said bar being substantially skewed with respect to a radius of the baseplate and overlapping and secured to the radially outwardly disposed portion of one divider and inwardly disposed portions of two circumferentially adjacent dividers; said bars tapering along the side edges thereof toward their inner ends and being circumferentially spaced whereby portions of said passages are open at the top for directing the atmosphere gas across the end of a coil seated upon said load support.

Claim 13

A combined load support and diffuser for supporting an axially vertical stack of coils in an annealing furnace and diffusing protective atmosphere gas within said furnace, said load support comprising a baseplate; a plurality of flow divider members carried on the upper surface of said baseplate, said members being substantially skewed with respect to a radius of the baseplate in one circumferential direction; said members comprising circumferentially alternately disposed long and short dividers extending inwardly from adjacent to the outer edge of said baseplate; said long dividers having inner end portions defining a central opening adapted to receive a blower and being circumferentially spaced and providing passages therebetween which substantially widen adjacent to said outer edge for directing flow of an atmosphere gas outwardly with respect to said load support and diffusing said gas; said short dividers disposed within said widened portions of said passages and dividing said widened portions into branch passages; outwardly and upwardly angled deflector plates disposed at the outer ends of said branch passages to deflect the gas upwardly at said outer ends; support bars carried on the upper surfaces of said dividers, each said bar being substantially skewed with respect to a radius of the baseplate and overlapping and secured to the radially outwardly disposed portion of one divider and inwardly disposed portions of two circumferentially adjacent dividers; said bars tapering along the side edges thereof toward their inner ends and being circumferentially spaced whereby portions of said passages are open at the top for directing the atmosphere gas across the end of a coil seated upon said load support.

Claim 14

A combined load support and diffuser as set forth in claim 9: each said long divider having a first portion disposed adjacent to the outer periphery of said baseplate, said first portion having outwardly diverging sidewalls and being skewed in said one circumferential direction, a second portion extending generally inwardly from said first portion and skewed in said one circumferential direction a greater degree than said first portion, and a third, inwardly tapered portion extending inwardly from said second portion and disposed generally parallel With said first portion; each said short divider comprising one portion disposed circumferentially between and generally parallel with the sides of two adjacent first portions of said long dividers, and another, inwardly tapered portion extending inwardly from said one portion between two adjacent second portions of said long dividers.

Claim 15

A combined load support and diffuser as set forth in claim 10: a blower guard member comprising a ring adapted to be disposed over said opening; said ring having outwardly projecting and circumferentially angled teeth disposed between inner end portions of said bars, at least some of said teeth overlapping tapered portions of said long dividers whereby said guard member is seated above said opening in the general plane of said bars.

Claim 16

A load support diffuser for supporting stacked coils in an annealing furnace comprising a baseplate having a central vertical axis; a plurality of flow divider members carried on the upper surface of said baseplate, certain of said members having inner ends defining an opening about said axis adapted to receive a blower; said members defining passages therebetween for directing a flow of gas from said opening outwardly to the periphery of said diffuser; support bars carried on the upper surfaces of said members, said bars being skewed with respect to true radii of said diffuser whereby each said bar overlaps portions of more than one of said members; said members being welded at the upper and lower edges thereof to said bars and said baseplate, respectively, at separated areas whereby substantial portions of said members are free to move with respect to said bars and baseplate to allow for separate expansion and contraction of the parts due to temperature changes.

Claim 17

A load support diffuser for supporting stacked coils in an annealing furnace comprising a baseplate having a central vertical axis; a plurality of flow divider members carried on the upper surface of said baseplate, certain of said members having inner ends defining an opening about said axis adapted to receive a blower; said members defining passages therebetween for directing a flow of gas from said opening outwardly to the periphery of said diffuser; support bars carried on the upper surfaces of said members, said bars being skewed with respect to true radii of said diffuser whereby each said bar overlaps portions of more than one of said members; said members being welded at the upper and lower edges thereof to said bars and said baseplate, respectively, at separated areas whereby substantial portions of said members are free to move with respect to said bars and baseplate to allow for separate expansion and contraction of the parts due to temperature changes.

Claim 18

A load support diffuser as set forth in claim 12: outwardly and upwardly angled deflector plates disposed between the outer end portions of adjacent flow divider members for deflecting the gas upwardly at the outer periphery of said diffuser; each said deflector plate having one side edge portion welded to one of said adjacent members; the opposite adjacent member having means loosely supporting the opposite side edge of said deflector plate.

Claim 19

A load support diffuser as set forth in claim 13: said last-mentioned means comprising ledge members projecting beneath said opposite side edges of said deflector members, said ledge members being secured to said opposite adjacent members at the same angle as said deflector plates.

Claim 20

A load support diffuser for supporting stacked coils in an annealing furnace comprising a baseplate having a vertical axis; said baseplate comprising a single piece of flat plate metal; a plurality of flow divider members carried on the upper surface of said baseplate, certain of said members having inner ends defining a central opening adapted to receive a blower; each said member comprising a plurality of substantially straight, relatively angled portions each of which is skewed with respect to a true radius of said diffuser in the same circumferential direction; flat support bars carried by said members whereby at least some of said bars overlap portions of more than one of said members; said members defining passages therebetween for directing flow of an atmosphere gas outwardly with respect to said load support for diffusing said gas within an annealing furnace; said support bars having side edges tapering inwardly from the outer periphery of said diffuser; said support bars being circumferentially spaced from each other whereby portions of said passages are open at the top for directing the atmosphere gas across the end of a coil seated upon said support bars.

Claim 21

A load support diffuser for supporting stacked coils in an annealing furnace comprising a baseplate having a vertical axis; said baseplate comprising a single piece of flat plate metal; a plurality of flow divider members carried on the upper surface of said baseplate, certain of said members having inner ends defining a central opening adapted to receive a blower; each said member comprising a plurality of substantially straight, relatively angled portions each of which is skewed with respect to a true radius of said diffuser in the same circumferential direction; flat support bars carried by said members whereby at least some of said bars overlap portions of more than one of said members; said members defining passages therebetween for directing flow of an atmosphere gas outwardly with respect to said load support for diffusing said gas within an annealing furnace; said support bars having side edges tapering inwardly from the outer periphery of said diffuser; said support bars being circumferentially spaced from each other whereby portions of said passages are open at the top for directing the atmosphere gas across the end of a coil seated upon said support bars.

Claim 22

A load support diffuser for supporting stacked coils in an annealing furnace comprising a baseplate having a vertical axis; said baseplate comprising flat plate metal; a plurality of flow divider members carried on the upper surface of said baseplate, certain of said members having inner ends defining a central opening adapted to receivE a blower and outer ends u1iformly spaced outwardly therefrom; each said member comprising a plurality of substantially straight portions each of which is skewed with respect to a true radius of said diffuser; each said member comprising at least two of said portions positioned to form a V-shape construction with the apex thereof directed inwardly of the diffuser; a plurality of flat support bars disposed upon and secured to said members; at least some of said support bars extending in overlapping relationship with portions of more than one of said members; said members defining passages therebetween for directing flow of an atmosphere gas outwardly with respect to said load support for diffusing said gas within an annealing furnace; said support bars being circumferentially spaced from each other whereby portions of said passages are open at the top for directing the atmosphere gas across the end of a coil seated upon said support bars.

Claim 23

A load support diffuser for supporting stacked coils in an annealing furnace comprising a baseplate having a vertical axis; said baseplate comprising flat plate metal; a plurality of flow divider members carried on the upper surface of said baseplate, certain of said members having inner ends defining a central opening adapted to receivE a blower and outer ends u1iformly spaced outwardly therefrom; each said member comprising a plurality of substantially straight portions each of which is skewed with respect to a true radius of said diffuser; each said member comprising at least two of said portions positioned to form a V-shape construction with the apex thereof directed inwardly of the diffuser; a plurality of flat support bars disposed upon and secured to said members; at least some of said support bars extending in overlapping relationship with portions of more than one of said members; said members defining passages therebetween for directing flow of an atmosphere gas outwardly with respect to said load support for diffusing said gas within an annealing furnace; said support bars being circumferentially spaced from each other whereby portions of said passages are open at the top for directing the atmosphere gas across the end of a coil seated upon said support bars.