Patent US4244686A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4244686A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Energy saving furnace and method of operating same
Assignee: General Electric Co
•
Filing: 1979-07-18
•
Granted: 1981-01-13
•
Expires: 1999-07-18
Abstract
Abstract This disclosure relates to a distinctive construction and method of operating a furnace or oven for controlled atmosphere service whereby substantial savings in heating power or energy are realized. The furnace or oven includes a combination of refractory and insulating materials arranged in a given sequence with respect to their relative gas permeabilities, and at least two gases of discernably different weights are strategically supplied to the furnace or oven at particular locations therein.
Inventors
- 👤 Wilmore S. Scott, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 20:39
CPC Classifications
F; F27; F27B; F27B5/00; F27B5/06; F27B5/16; F27B5/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
147 words
A furnace of improved operating economy for controlled atmosphere service, comprising: (a) a heating chamber having walls of a gas permeable refractory material providing at least a portion of the hot face of said chamber; (b) a substantially gas impervious furnace housing enclosing at least a portion of the heating chamber in a spaced apart relation with the gas permeable walls thereof to thereby provide an intermediate space therebetween; (c) a highly porous thermal insulating material positioned in the space intermediate said furnace housing and gas permeable walls of the heating chamber; (d) means for supplying a relatively light weight gas into the heating chamber; and, (e) means for supplying a relatively heavy weight gas into the space intermediate said furnace housing and gas permeable walls of the heating chamber at a pressure greater than the pressure of the relatively lighter weight gas within the heating chamber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
147 words
A furnace of improved operating economy for controlled atmosphere service, comprising: (a) a heating chamber having walls of a gas permeable refractory material providing at least a portion of the hot face of said chamber; (b) a substantially gas impervious furnace housing enclosing at least a portion of the heating chamber in a spaced apart relation with the gas permeable walls thereof to thereby provide an intermediate space therebetween; (c) a highly porous thermal insulating material positioned in the space intermediate said furnace housing and gas permeable walls of the heating chamber; (d) means for supplying a relatively light weight gas into the heating chamber; and, (e) means for supplying a relatively heavy weight gas into the space intermediate said furnace housing and gas permeable walls of the heating chamber at a pressure greater than the pressure of the relatively lighter weight gas within the heating chamber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
196 words
A furnace of improved operating economy for controlled atmosphere service, comprising: (a) a heating chamber having walls of a gas permeable refractory material providing at least a portion of the hot face of said chamber defining a heating area; (b) a sheathing comprising a relatively low gas permeable material covering at least a portion of the cold outer surface of said walls of gas permeable refractory material defining the heating chamber area; (c) a substantially gas impervious furnace housing enclosing at least a portion of the heating chamber in a spaced apart relation with the sheathed gas permeable walls thereof to thereby provide an intermediate space therebetween; (d) a highly porous thermal insulating material positioned in the space intermediate said furnace housing and sheathed gas permeable walls of the heating chamber; (e) means for supplying a relatively light weight gas into the heating area of the heating chamber; and, (f) means for supplying a relatively heavy weight gas into the space intermediate said furnace housing and sheathed gas permeable walls of the heating area of the heating chamber at a pressure greater than the pressure of the relatively lighter weight gas within the heating chamber area.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
196 words
A furnace of improved operating economy for controlled atmosphere service, comprising: (a) a heating chamber having walls of a gas permeable refractory material providing at least a portion of the hot face of said chamber defining a heating area; (b) a sheathing comprising a relatively low gas permeable material covering at least a portion of the cold outer surface of said walls of gas permeable refractory material defining the heating chamber area; (c) a substantially gas impervious furnace housing enclosing at least a portion of the heating chamber in a spaced apart relation with the sheathed gas permeable walls thereof to thereby provide an intermediate space therebetween; (d) a highly porous thermal insulating material positioned in the space intermediate said furnace housing and sheathed gas permeable walls of the heating chamber; (e) means for supplying a relatively light weight gas into the heating area of the heating chamber; and, (f) means for supplying a relatively heavy weight gas into the space intermediate said furnace housing and sheathed gas permeable walls of the heating area of the heating chamber at a pressure greater than the pressure of the relatively lighter weight gas within the heating chamber area.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
211 words
A furnace of improved operating economy for controlled atmosphere service, comprising: (a) a heating chamber having walls of a gas permeable refractory ceramic providing at least a substantial portion of the hot face of said chamber defining a heating area of the furnace; (b) a heat resistant sheathing comprising a relatively low gas permeable material covering at least a portion of the cold outer surface of said walls of gas permeable refractory ceramic defining the heating chamber area; (c) a substantially gas impervious furnace housing enclosing at least a portion of the heating chamber in a spaced apart relation with the sheathed gas permeable walls thereof to thereby provide an intermediate space therebetween; (d) a highly porous particulate thermal insulating material positioned in the space intermediate said furnace housing and sheathed gas permeable walls of the heating chamber; (e) means for supplying a relatively light weight gas into the heating area of the heating chamber to provide an atmosphere therein; and, (f) means for supplying a relatively heavy weight gas into the space intermediate said furnace housing and sheathed gas permeable walls of the heating area of the heating chamber at a pressure greater than the pressure of the relatively lighter weight gas providing an atmosphere within the heating chamber area.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
211 words
A furnace of improved operating economy for controlled atmosphere service, comprising: (a) a heating chamber having walls of a gas permeable refractory ceramic providing at least a substantial portion of the hot face of said chamber defining a heating area of the furnace; (b) a heat resistant sheathing comprising a relatively low gas permeable material covering at least a portion of the cold outer surface of said walls of gas permeable refractory ceramic defining the heating chamber area; (c) a substantially gas impervious furnace housing enclosing at least a portion of the heating chamber in a spaced apart relation with the sheathed gas permeable walls thereof to thereby provide an intermediate space therebetween; (d) a highly porous particulate thermal insulating material positioned in the space intermediate said furnace housing and sheathed gas permeable walls of the heating chamber; (e) means for supplying a relatively light weight gas into the heating area of the heating chamber to provide an atmosphere therein; and, (f) means for supplying a relatively heavy weight gas into the space intermediate said furnace housing and sheathed gas permeable walls of the heating area of the heating chamber at a pressure greater than the pressure of the relatively lighter weight gas providing an atmosphere within the heating chamber area.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The furnace of claim 3, wherein the sheathing comprising a relatively low gas permeable material includes a plurality of layers of refractory materials.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The furnace of claim 3, wherein the gas permeable refractory ceramic of the heating chamber walls comprises fire brick.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The furnace of claim 3, wherein the sheathing comprising a relatively low gas permeable material includes a thin sheet of metal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The furnace of claim 6, wherein the thin sheet of metal included in the sheathing comprises molybdenum.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The furnace of claim 6, wherein the sheathing comprising a relatively low gas permeability material includes a layer of zirconia.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The furnace of claim 6, wherein the sheathing comprising a relatively low gas permeability material includes a a layer of alumina.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
253 words
A furnace of improved operating economy for controlled atmosphere service, comprising: (a) a heating chamber having walls of a gas permeable refractory ceramic providing at least a substantial portion of the hot face of said chamber defining a heating area of the furnace; (b) a sheathing barrier comprising a relatively low gas permeable material covering at least a portion of the cold outer surface of said walls of gas permeable refractory ceramic defining the heating chamber area, said sheathing barrier including a thin sheet of molybdenum adjoining the cold outer surface of the walls of the heating chamber area, a layer of zirconia adjoining sheet of molybdenum, and a layer of alumina adjoining the sheet of molybdenum; (c) a substantially gas impervious furnace housing enclosing at least a portion of the heating chamber in a spaced apart relation with the sheathed gas permeable walls thereof to thereby provide an intermediate space therebetween; (d) a highly porous particulate thermal insulating material positioned in the space intermediate said furnace housing and sheathed gas permeable walls of the heating chamber; (e) means for supplying a relatively light weight gas into the heating area of the heating chamber to provide an atmosphere therein of said gas; and, (f) means for supplying a relatively heavy weight gas into the space intermediate said furnace housing and sheathed gas permeable walls of the heating area of the heating chamber at a pressure greater than the pressure of the relatively lighter weight gas providing an atmosphere within the heating chamber area.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
253 words
A furnace of improved operating economy for controlled atmosphere service, comprising: (a) a heating chamber having walls of a gas permeable refractory ceramic providing at least a substantial portion of the hot face of said chamber defining a heating area of the furnace; (b) a sheathing barrier comprising a relatively low gas permeable material covering at least a portion of the cold outer surface of said walls of gas permeable refractory ceramic defining the heating chamber area, said sheathing barrier including a thin sheet of molybdenum adjoining the cold outer surface of the walls of the heating chamber area, a layer of zirconia adjoining sheet of molybdenum, and a layer of alumina adjoining the sheet of molybdenum; (c) a substantially gas impervious furnace housing enclosing at least a portion of the heating chamber in a spaced apart relation with the sheathed gas permeable walls thereof to thereby provide an intermediate space therebetween; (d) a highly porous particulate thermal insulating material positioned in the space intermediate said furnace housing and sheathed gas permeable walls of the heating chamber; (e) means for supplying a relatively light weight gas into the heating area of the heating chamber to provide an atmosphere therein of said gas; and, (f) means for supplying a relatively heavy weight gas into the space intermediate said furnace housing and sheathed gas permeable walls of the heating area of the heating chamber at a pressure greater than the pressure of the relatively lighter weight gas providing an atmosphere within the heating chamber area.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
168 words
A method of improving the operating economy of a furnace for controlled atmosphere service, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a heating chamber for a furnace with walls of a gas permeable refractory material forming at least a portion of the hot face of said heating chamber; (b) providing means for supplying heat to said furnace heating chamber; (c) providing a substantially gas impervious furnace housing enclosing at least a portion of the heating chamber in a spaced apart relation with the gas permeable walls thereof to thereby provide an intermediate space therebetween; (d) providing a highly porous thermal insulating material positioned in the space intermediate said furnace housing and gas permeable walls of the heating chamber; (e) supplying a relatively light weight gas into the heating chamber; and, (f) supplying a relatively heavy weight gas into the space intermediate said furnace housing and gas permeable walls of the heating chamber at a pressure greater than the pressure of the relatively lighter weight gas within the heating chamber.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
168 words
A method of improving the operating economy of a furnace for controlled atmosphere service, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a heating chamber for a furnace with walls of a gas permeable refractory material forming at least a portion of the hot face of said heating chamber; (b) providing means for supplying heat to said furnace heating chamber; (c) providing a substantially gas impervious furnace housing enclosing at least a portion of the heating chamber in a spaced apart relation with the gas permeable walls thereof to thereby provide an intermediate space therebetween; (d) providing a highly porous thermal insulating material positioned in the space intermediate said furnace housing and gas permeable walls of the heating chamber; (e) supplying a relatively light weight gas into the heating chamber; and, (f) supplying a relatively heavy weight gas into the space intermediate said furnace housing and gas permeable walls of the heating chamber at a pressure greater than the pressure of the relatively lighter weight gas within the heating chamber.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
73 words
The method of claim 11, wherein the relatively light weight gas supplied into the heating chamber is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, helium and ammonia, and mixtures thereof, and the relatively heavy weight gas supplied into the space intermediate said furnace housing and gas permeable walls at the heating chamber is selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, neon, argon, krypton, xenon and radon, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
211 words
A method of improving the operating economy of a furnace for controlled atmosphere service, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a heating chamber having walls of a gas impervious refractory material forming at least a portion of the hot face of said chamber defining a heating area; (b) providing means for supplying heat to said furnace heating chamber area; (c) providing a sheathing comprising a relatively low gas permeable material covering at least a portion of the cold outer surface of said walls of gas permeable refractory material defining the heating chamber area; (d) providing a substantially gas impervious furnace housing enclosing at least a portion of the heating chamber in a spaced apart relation with the sheathed gas permeable walls thereof to thereby provide an intermediate space therebetween; (e) providing a highly porous thermal insulating material positioned in the space intermediate said furnace housing and sheathed gas permeable walls of the heating chamber; (f) supplying a relatively light weight gas into the heating area of the heating chamber; and, (g) supplying a relatively heavy weight gas into the space intermediate said furnace housing and sheathed gas permeable walls of the heating chamber at a pressure greater than the pressure of the relatively lighter weight gas within the heating chamber area.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
211 words
A method of improving the operating economy of a furnace for controlled atmosphere service, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a heating chamber having walls of a gas impervious refractory material forming at least a portion of the hot face of said chamber defining a heating area; (b) providing means for supplying heat to said furnace heating chamber area; (c) providing a sheathing comprising a relatively low gas permeable material covering at least a portion of the cold outer surface of said walls of gas permeable refractory material defining the heating chamber area; (d) providing a substantially gas impervious furnace housing enclosing at least a portion of the heating chamber in a spaced apart relation with the sheathed gas permeable walls thereof to thereby provide an intermediate space therebetween; (e) providing a highly porous thermal insulating material positioned in the space intermediate said furnace housing and sheathed gas permeable walls of the heating chamber; (f) supplying a relatively light weight gas into the heating area of the heating chamber; and, (g) supplying a relatively heavy weight gas into the space intermediate said furnace housing and sheathed gas permeable walls of the heating chamber at a pressure greater than the pressure of the relatively lighter weight gas within the heating chamber area.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
223 words
A method of improving the operating economy of a furnace for controlled atmosphere service, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a heating chamber having walls of a gas permeable refractory ceramic forming at least a substantial portion of the hot face of said chamber defining a heating area of the furnace; (b) providing means for supplying heat to said furnace heating chamber area; (c) providing a heat resistant sheathing comprising a relatively low gas permeability material covering at least a portion of the cold outer surface of said walls of gas permeable refractory ceramic defining the heating chamber area; (d) providing a substantially gas impervious furnace housing enclosing at least a portion of the heating chamber in a spaced apart relation with the sheathed gas permeable walls thereof to thereby provide an intermediate space therebetween; (e) providing a highly porous particulate thermal insulating material positioned in the space intermediate said furnace housing and sheathed gas permeable walls of the heating chamber; (f) supplying a relatively light weight gas into the heating area of the heating chamber to provide an atmosphere therein; and, (g) supplying a relatively heavy weight gas into the space intermediate said furnace housing and sheathed gas permeable walls of the heating chamber at a pressure grearter than the pressure of the relatively lighter weight gas within the heating chamber area.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
223 words
A method of improving the operating economy of a furnace for controlled atmosphere service, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a heating chamber having walls of a gas permeable refractory ceramic forming at least a substantial portion of the hot face of said chamber defining a heating area of the furnace; (b) providing means for supplying heat to said furnace heating chamber area; (c) providing a heat resistant sheathing comprising a relatively low gas permeability material covering at least a portion of the cold outer surface of said walls of gas permeable refractory ceramic defining the heating chamber area; (d) providing a substantially gas impervious furnace housing enclosing at least a portion of the heating chamber in a spaced apart relation with the sheathed gas permeable walls thereof to thereby provide an intermediate space therebetween; (e) providing a highly porous particulate thermal insulating material positioned in the space intermediate said furnace housing and sheathed gas permeable walls of the heating chamber; (f) supplying a relatively light weight gas into the heating area of the heating chamber to provide an atmosphere therein; and, (g) supplying a relatively heavy weight gas into the space intermediate said furnace housing and sheathed gas permeable walls of the heating chamber at a pressure grearter than the pressure of the relatively lighter weight gas within the heating chamber area.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 14, comprising providing the sheathing comprising a relatively low gas permeable material covering at least a portion of the cold outer surface of the walls of the heating chamber area with a plurality of layers of refractory materials.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 14, comprising forming the gas permeable refractory ceramic of the heating chamber walls with fire brick.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 14, comprising providing the sheathing comprising a relatively low gas permeability material with a thin sheet of metal covering at least a portion of the cold outer surface of the walls of the heating chamber area.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 17, comprising providing the sheathing comprising a relatively low gas permeability material with a thin sheet of molybdenum covering at least a portion of the cold outer surface of the walls of the heating chamber area.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 17, comprising providing the sheathing comprising a relatively low gas permeability material with a layer of zirconia covering at least a portion of the cold outer surface of the walls of the heating chamber area.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 17, comprising providing the sheathing comprising a relatively low gas permeability material with a layer of alumina covering at least a portion of the cold outer surface of the walls of the heating chamber area.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
264 words
A method of improving the operating economy of a furnace for controlled atmosphere service, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a heating chamber having walls of a gas permeable refractory ceramic forming at least a substantial portion of the hot face of said chamber defining a heating area of the furnace; (b) providing means for supplying heat to said furnace heating chamber area; (c) providing a sheathing barrier comprising a relatively low gas permeability material covering at least a portion of the cold outer surface of said walls of gas permeable refractory ceramics defining the heating chamber area, said provided sheathing barrier including a thin sheet of molybdenum adjoining the cold outer surface of the walls of the heating chamber area, a layer of zirconia adjoining the sheet of molybdenum, and a layer of alumina adjoining the sheet of molybdenum; (d) providing a substantially gas impervious furnace housing enclosing at least a portion of the heating chamber in a spaced apart relation with the sheathed gas permeable walls thereof to thereby provide an intermediate space therebetween; (e) providing a highly porous particulate thermal insulating material positioned in the space intermediate said furnace housing and sheathed gas permeable walls of the heating chamber; (f) supplying a relatively light weight gas into the heating area of the heating chamber to provide an atmosphere therein; and, (g) supplying a relatively heavy weight gas into the space intermediate said furnace housing and sheathed gas permeable walls of the heating chamber at a pressure greater than the pressure of the relatively lighter weight gas within the heating chamber area.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
264 words
A method of improving the operating economy of a furnace for controlled atmosphere service, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a heating chamber having walls of a gas permeable refractory ceramic forming at least a substantial portion of the hot face of said chamber defining a heating area of the furnace; (b) providing means for supplying heat to said furnace heating chamber area; (c) providing a sheathing barrier comprising a relatively low gas permeability material covering at least a portion of the cold outer surface of said walls of gas permeable refractory ceramics defining the heating chamber area, said provided sheathing barrier including a thin sheet of molybdenum adjoining the cold outer surface of the walls of the heating chamber area, a layer of zirconia adjoining the sheet of molybdenum, and a layer of alumina adjoining the sheet of molybdenum; (d) providing a substantially gas impervious furnace housing enclosing at least a portion of the heating chamber in a spaced apart relation with the sheathed gas permeable walls thereof to thereby provide an intermediate space therebetween; (e) providing a highly porous particulate thermal insulating material positioned in the space intermediate said furnace housing and sheathed gas permeable walls of the heating chamber; (f) supplying a relatively light weight gas into the heating area of the heating chamber to provide an atmosphere therein; and, (g) supplying a relatively heavy weight gas into the space intermediate said furnace housing and sheathed gas permeable walls of the heating chamber at a pressure greater than the pressure of the relatively lighter weight gas within the heating chamber area.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 21, wherein the relatively light weight gas supplied into the heating chamber comprises ammonia, and the relatively heavy weight gas supplied into the space intermediate said furnace housing and gas permeable walls of the heating chamber comprises nitrogen.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1472401A
Cited
US1549830A
Cited
US2992147A
Cited
US3460816A
Cited
US3198503A
Cited
US3515380A
Cited
US3930787A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-01-13 | 1984-07-14 | 1985-01-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-01-13 | 1988-07-14 | 1989-01-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-01-13 | 1992-07-14 | 1993-01-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |