Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
243 words
Apparatus for heat-treating flat metal stock comprising an insulated compartment having an entry slot and an exit slot formed in opposite endwalls of said compartment; means for introducing said flat stock into said compartment through said entry slot and for removing said stock through said exit slot such that said stock traverses said compartment along a plane; a first array of tubes of heat-resistant material disposed in spaced relationship to each other equidistant from and beneath said plane, said tubes each extending across at least a portion of the width of said compartment and having a row of perforations formed along the upper surface thereof confronting said plane; a second array of tubes of heat-resistant material disposed in spaced relationship to each other equidistant from, and above said plane, said second array of tubes each extending across at least a portion of the width of said compartment and having a row of perforations formed along the lower surface thereof confronting said plane; each of said tubes of said arrays having a closed end; and a burner positioned adjacent the end of each of said tubes opposite said closed end for generating heated products of combustion within said tubes to heat said tubes to radiance and to eject said heated products of combustion as jets emanating from said perforations, whereby said metal stock is heated by radiation from said tubes and by convection heat transfer by the impingement of said jets upon said stock.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
243 words
Apparatus for heat-treating flat metal stock comprising an insulated compartment having an entry slot and an exit slot formed in opposite endwalls of said compartment; means for introducing said flat stock into said compartment through said entry slot and for removing said stock through said exit slot such that said stock traverses said compartment along a plane; a first array of tubes of heat-resistant material disposed in spaced relationship to each other equidistant from and beneath said plane, said tubes each extending across at least a portion of the width of said compartment and having a row of perforations formed along the upper surface thereof confronting said plane; a second array of tubes of heat-resistant material disposed in spaced relationship to each other equidistant from, and above said plane, said second array of tubes each extending across at least a portion of the width of said compartment and having a row of perforations formed along the lower surface thereof confronting said plane; each of said tubes of said arrays having a closed end; and a burner positioned adjacent the end of each of said tubes opposite said closed end for generating heated products of combustion within said tubes to heat said tubes to radiance and to eject said heated products of combustion as jets emanating from said perforations, whereby said metal stock is heated by radiation from said tubes and by convection heat transfer by the impingement of said jets upon said stock.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
70 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein each said burner includes a central duct for the admission of a stream of air and a chamber surrounding said central duct for the admission of combustible gas, and means for causing said combustible gas to converge upon said stream of air to promote intimate mixing of said combustible air and rapid and essentially complete combustion in the immediate vicinity of said burner.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
99 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said central duct is a cylindrical passage for air, said chamber is a sleeve concentric with said cylindrical passage and said means for causing said combustible gas to converge upon said stream of air comprises a mixing plate forming an end of said burner within said tube, said mixing plate having a central axial opening formed therethrough to permit direct entry of air into said tube and a plurality of openings formed at an angle therethrough to communicate with said sleeve and direct said gas to converge upon said stream of air.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said perforations of each tube of said first array are in staggered relationship to those of each confronting tube of said second array.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said perforations of each tube of each array are staggered with respect to the perforations of tubes adjacent thereto whereby impingement of said jets is distributed over said surfaces of said metal member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said plurality of openings formed through said mixing plate are at an angle of approximately 60° to the plane of said mixing plate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein aligned openings are formed in opposite walls of said insulated compartment, each of said array of tubes being end-supported in a pair of said aligned openings.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 2, including a first flange formed on an end of each of said tubes, a second flange formed on each of said burners, and means for joining each said first flange to a second flange to retain said burners within said tubes.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said upper half of said compartment and said first array of tubes are separable from said lower half of said compartment and said second array of tubes.