US3817084A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for inserting and removing specimens from high temperature vacuum furnaces
Assignee: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
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Filing: 1972-11-17
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Granted: 1974-06-18
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Expires: 1992-11-17
Abstract
Abstract A high temperature vacuum furnace having secured to the port thereof apparatus for the insertion of specimens to be tested and removal thereof from the test zone of the furnace. The apparatus comprises a high speed gate valve for isolating the interior of the furnace from an air lock chamber on the opposite side of the gate valve. The air lock chamber is provided with valve ports connected to a vacuum source, a source of inert quenching gas, and the atmosphere, respectively. Removeably attached to the end of the air lock chamber away from the furnace is a cylindrical tube having disposed within it a rod carrying a specimen pan at the end towards the furnace and having mounted at its top end an annular magnet having a diameter slightly less than the interior diameter of the tube. The top end of the tube is closed by a removeable cap. Encircling the tube in the vicinity of the magnet is a carbon steel ring which when axially moved along the tube causes the magnet to follow it and thereby controls the position of the rod and specimen pan within the tube. In an alternative embodiment, the magnet is replaced by an iron slug which serves as an armature for the coil of the solenoid which replaces the carbon steel ring. The specimen is inserted in the furnace without cooling the furnace down or disturbing the vacuum by first removing the tube from the outer end of the air lock chamber, placing the material to be tested in the specimen pan, and replacing the tube on the outer end of the air lock chamber. The valve in the port connected to the source of the vacuum is then opened to bring the pressure in the air lock chamber to that of the furnace. The gate valve is then opened and the ring moved along the tube towards the furnace thereby moving the rod and specimen pan until the specimen pan is within the test zone of the furnace. After the completion of the test, the specimen pan is moved to the air lock chamber, the gate valve closed, the specimen cooled, and the chamber brought to atmospheric pressure. Optionally, the specimen may be quenched with inert gas.
Inventors
- 👤 C Whitehead
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 10:42
CPC Classifications
F; F27; F27B; F27B5/00; F27B5/04; G; G01; G01N; G01N17/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
212 words
Apparatus for placing a specimen in a high temperature vacuum furnace and removing said specimen therefrom without disturbing the temperature or vacuum of said furnace, said furnace having a port communicating with a test zone in said furnace, said apparatus comprising adaptor means connecting a first side of a gate valve means to said port in said furnace, a second and opposite side of said gate valve means connected to a first side of an air lock chamber, valved means associateD with said air lock chamber for selectively placing said chamber in communication with a vacuum source, further valved means associated with said air lock chamber for selectively placing said chamber in communication with the atmosphere, an elongated hollow cylinder tube connected to the second and opposite side of said air lock chamber, specimen holder means movable by means operative from outside of said hollow cylinder tube through said air lock chamber and said gate valve means when opened, and to and from said test zone, said specimen holder means including an elongated rod having a specimen pan secured to one end thereof and a magnet secured to the opposite end thereof and said means operative from outside of said hollow cylinder tube consists of a carbon steel ring slidably disposed thereon.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
212 words
Apparatus for placing a specimen in a high temperature vacuum furnace and removing said specimen therefrom without disturbing the temperature or vacuum of said furnace, said furnace having a port communicating with a test zone in said furnace, said apparatus comprising adaptor means connecting a first side of a gate valve means to said port in said furnace, a second and opposite side of said gate valve means connected to a first side of an air lock chamber, valved means associateD with said air lock chamber for selectively placing said chamber in communication with a vacuum source, further valved means associated with said air lock chamber for selectively placing said chamber in communication with the atmosphere, an elongated hollow cylinder tube connected to the second and opposite side of said air lock chamber, specimen holder means movable by means operative from outside of said hollow cylinder tube through said air lock chamber and said gate valve means when opened, and to and from said test zone, said specimen holder means including an elongated rod having a specimen pan secured to one end thereof and a magnet secured to the opposite end thereof and said means operative from outside of said hollow cylinder tube consists of a carbon steel ring slidably disposed thereon.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said gate valve means is a vacuum operated gate valve.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said air lock chamber includes additional valved means for placing said chamber in selective communication with a source of inert gas.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
268 words
Apparatus for placing a specimen in a high temperature vacuum furnace and removing said specimen therefrom without disturbing the temperature or vacuum of said furnace, said furnace having a port communicating with a test zone in said furnace, said apparatus comprising adaptor means connecting a first side of a gate valve means to said port in said furnace, a second and opposite side of said valve means connected to a first side of an air lock chamber, valved means associated with said air lock chamber for placing said chamber in communication with a vacuum source, further valved means associated with said air lock chamber for placing said chamber in communication with the atmosphere, a hollow tube connected to the second and opposite side of said lock chamber, the interior of said tube being in communication with the interior of said air lock chamber, a rod disposed longitudinally within said tube, a specimen holder removeably attached to a first end of said rod, said first end being the end of said rod disposed towards the furnace, a cap closing the second end of said tube, and magnetic means for moving said rod axially within said tube, said magnetic means comprising ring means encircling said tube exteriorly thereof in the vicinity of a cooperative means secured to the second end of said rod, the axial movement of said ring means causing the axial movement of said rod within said tube due to magnetic forces to thereby move said specimen holder through said air lock chamber and through said gate valve means when opened, and to and from said test zone.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
268 words
Apparatus for placing a specimen in a high temperature vacuum furnace and removing said specimen therefrom without disturbing the temperature or vacuum of said furnace, said furnace having a port communicating with a test zone in said furnace, said apparatus comprising adaptor means connecting a first side of a gate valve means to said port in said furnace, a second and opposite side of said valve means connected to a first side of an air lock chamber, valved means associated with said air lock chamber for placing said chamber in communication with a vacuum source, further valved means associated with said air lock chamber for placing said chamber in communication with the atmosphere, a hollow tube connected to the second and opposite side of said lock chamber, the interior of said tube being in communication with the interior of said air lock chamber, a rod disposed longitudinally within said tube, a specimen holder removeably attached to a first end of said rod, said first end being the end of said rod disposed towards the furnace, a cap closing the second end of said tube, and magnetic means for moving said rod axially within said tube, said magnetic means comprising ring means encircling said tube exteriorly thereof in the vicinity of a cooperative means secured to the second end of said rod, the axial movement of said ring means causing the axial movement of said rod within said tube due to magnetic forces to thereby move said specimen holder through said air lock chamber and through said gate valve means when opened, and to and from said test zone.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein ring means comprises a carbon steel ring and said cooperative means comprises a magnet.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said ring means comprises a solenoid coil and said cooperative means comprises an iron slug which acts as the armature for said solenoid coil.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said gate valve means comprises a vacuum operated gate valve.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said gate valve means comprises a manually operated gate valve.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said gate valve means comprises a pneumatically operated gate valve.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said gate valve means comprises an electrically operated gate valve.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said air lock chamber includes valved means for placing said chamber in communication with a source of inert gas.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
259 words
Apparatus comprising adaptor means suitable for connecting a first side of a vacuum operated gate valve to a port of a high temperature vacuum furnace having a test zone therein, a second and opposite side of said gate valve connected to a first side of an air lock chamber, first valved means associated with said air lock chamber for placing said chamber in communication with a vacuum source, second valved means associated with saiD air lock chamber for placing said chamber in communication with the atmosphere, and third valved means associated with said air lock chamber for placing said chamber in communication with a source of inert gas, a hollow tube connected to the second and opposite side of said air lock chamber, the interior of said tube being in communication with the interior of said air lock chamber, a rod disposed longitudinally within said tube, a specimen holder removably attached to a first end of said rod, said first end being the end of said rod disposed towards said furnace, a cap closing the second end of said tube, magnetic means for moving said rod axially within said tube, said magnetic means comprising a solenoid coil encircling said tube exteriorly thereof in the vicinity of an iron slug secured to the second end of said rod, the axial movement of said solenoid coil causing the axial movement of said rod within said tube to thereby move said specimen holder through said air lock chamber and through said gate valve when opened, and to and from said test zone.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
259 words
Apparatus comprising adaptor means suitable for connecting a first side of a vacuum operated gate valve to a port of a high temperature vacuum furnace having a test zone therein, a second and opposite side of said gate valve connected to a first side of an air lock chamber, first valved means associated with said air lock chamber for placing said chamber in communication with a vacuum source, second valved means associated with saiD air lock chamber for placing said chamber in communication with the atmosphere, and third valved means associated with said air lock chamber for placing said chamber in communication with a source of inert gas, a hollow tube connected to the second and opposite side of said air lock chamber, the interior of said tube being in communication with the interior of said air lock chamber, a rod disposed longitudinally within said tube, a specimen holder removably attached to a first end of said rod, said first end being the end of said rod disposed towards said furnace, a cap closing the second end of said tube, magnetic means for moving said rod axially within said tube, said magnetic means comprising a solenoid coil encircling said tube exteriorly thereof in the vicinity of an iron slug secured to the second end of said rod, the axial movement of said solenoid coil causing the axial movement of said rod within said tube to thereby move said specimen holder through said air lock chamber and through said gate valve when opened, and to and from said test zone.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-06-17 | 1977-12-17 | 1978-06-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-06-17 | 1981-12-17 | 1982-06-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-06-17 | 1985-12-17 | 1986-06-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |