Electrically heated oven for high temperature cleaning

Claim 1

In an electrically heated, high temperature cleaning oven in which organic contaminants are pyrolyzed and the resulting residues are oxidized, the combination which comprises: a. a plurality of timers to automatically direct a cleaning operation; b. a start button connected to a power source to initialize one of said plurality of timers to direct the purging of said oven with inert gas; c. interlock means electrically connected to said start button for automatically locking an oven door when said oven is energized; d. temperature regulating means having a temperature probe within said oven for initiating a second of said plurality of timers to control the duration of pyrolysis, with a third of said plurality being responsive to an end of cycle pulse from said second of said plurality to direct the oxidation of contaminant residues; e. a plurality of electrically controlled pneumatic valves interposed between said oven and sources of air and inert gas, and responsive to signals from said timers; f. means responsive to signals from said temperature regulating means and from said one and said third of said plurality of timers for controlling electrical heaters within said oven; g. automatic correcting means having a high temperature gas detector probe within said oven and electrically connected to said heater control means, to one of said plurality of valves controlling the flow of air from a pressurized air source into said oven, and to an alarm for signaling the presence of combustible gas and taking corrective action; h. pressure sensing means connected between said oven and an inert gas source for signaling failure of said gas source; i. means connected between said oven and said sources of pressurized air and inert gas for maintaining a preset air and inert gas mixture when air is admitted into said oven; j. temperature control means having a temperature probe within said oven for deenergizing said heater control means in event of overheating or rapid temperature changes; and k. means forming a caged panel within a wall of said oven to relieve pressure while retaining debris in event gases within said oven ignite.