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US4059399A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Cooled tunnel-furnace with ground effect

Assignee: Bertin Technologies SAS
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Filing: 1976-02-27
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Granted: 1977-11-22
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Expires: 1996-02-27
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Abstract

Abstract A tunnel-furnace is cooled by circulating air between two metal walls forming a jacket and is provided with a ported or permeable hearth extending along its entire length. The articles to be heated or baked in the furnace are supported therein on an air cushion formed with the heated air providing from the cooling jacket and supplied through the ported hearth.

Inventors

  • 👤 Michel Jean Jacques Cellier
  • 👤 Jean-Claude Guitton
  • 👤 Jean-Claude Scholle
  • 👤 Stephane Georges Jean-Marie Viannay

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-06 13:36
CPC Classifications
F; F26; F26B; F26B15/00; F26B15/10; F26B15/12; C; C21; C21D; C21D9/00; C21D9/52; C21D9/54; C21D9/56; C21D9/63; F26B21/00; F26B21/20; F26B25/00; F26B25/06; F27; F27B; F27B9/00; F27B9/14; F27B9/20; F27B9/24; F27B9/2476

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim 135 words
A ground-effect type tunnel furnace of the kind including a cooling jacket through which fluid is circulated, and a permeable hearth device subdividing said tunnel furnace along its entire length on the one hand into a succession of pneumatic boxes and on the other hand into a work corridor for the accomodation of the articles to be processed adjacent said permeable hearth device, wherein the improvement comprises duct means connecting said cooling jacket to said pneumatic boxes, a burner in said duct means, and a fuel supply line leading to said burner, whereby said fluid after having circulated through said jacket and having been thereby heated is fed to said burner which in turn delivers burnt gases to said pneumatic boxes and thence across said permeable hearth device to levitate said articles by ground effect.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 135 words
A ground-effect type tunnel furnace of the kind including a cooling jacket through which fluid is circulated, and a permeable hearth device subdividing said tunnel furnace along its entire length on the one hand into a succession of pneumatic boxes and on the other hand into a work corridor for the accomodation of the articles to be processed adjacent said permeable hearth device, wherein the improvement comprises duct means connecting said cooling jacket to said pneumatic boxes, a burner in said duct means, and a fuel supply line leading to said burner, whereby said fluid after having circulated through said jacket and having been thereby heated is fed to said burner which in turn delivers burnt gases to said pneumatic boxes and thence across said permeable hearth device to levitate said articles by ground effect.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 56 words
A furnace as claimed in claim 1, wherein said permeable hearth device comprises a double-walled ported sole having two spaced opposite sides bounding an intersticial space therebetween, and a plurality of passageways extending across but isolated from said intersticial space and opening out at said opposite sides to connect said pneumatic boxes with said work corridor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 21 words
A furnace as claimed in claim 2, wherein said intersticial space communicates with said cooling jacket to receive said fluid therefrom.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 43 words
A furnace as claimed in claim 1, wherein said permeable hearth device comprises one ported sole, said pneumatic boxes occupy a lower position and extend beneath said ported sole, and said work corridor occupies an upper position and extends above said ported sole.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 37 words
A furnace as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a feedback pipe interconnecting said upper work corridor and said lower pneumatic boxes, separate and distinct from said ported sole and in opposite flow direction with respect thereto.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 51 words
A furnace as claimed in claim 5, wherein said burner is incorporated into a static ejector comprising (i) an energizing jet located at a confluence of said duct means and fuel supply line, and (ii) a fluid inducing shroud located in said feedback pipe and into which scid energizing jet opens.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 28 words
A furnace as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a fan delivering pressure fluid to said cooling jacket and thence, via said duct means, to said energizing jet.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 36 words
A furnace as claimed in claim 1, wherein said permeable hearth device comprises two ported soles opposite one another and bounding inwardly therebetween said work corridor, said pneumatic boxes extending outwardly of said two ported soles.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 36 words
A furnace as claimed in claim 1, wherein said burner is incorporated into a venturi-shaped nozzle having a main body communicating with said jacket and a jet formed by the outlet of said fuel supply line.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 31 words
A furnace as claimed in claim 9, further comprising a blower having an intake connected to the space into which said burner discharges, and a discharge connected to said pneumatic boxes.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US1657959A Cited
US2201988A Cited
US3325157A Cited
US3473792A Cited
US3524498A Cited
US3830624A Cited
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US3942943A Cited
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1980-11-21 1981-05-23 1981-11-22 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1984-11-21 1985-05-23 1985-11-22 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1988-11-21 1989-05-23 1989-11-22 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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