Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
174 words
A method of hot isostatic pressing in which a shaped item to be worked immersed in molten glass in subjected to a hot isostatic pressing treatment, said method comprising: embedding said shaped item to be worked in glass powder disposed in a crucible; loading said crucible into a movable heating furnace having a heater and a heat insulating structure; charging said furnace into an atmospheric chamber; adjusting the atmosphere in said chamber to a predetermined condition and heating said crucible by said heater to soften and melt said glass in said crucible; transferring said furnace from said atmospheric chamber into a high pressure container while maintaining a high temperature in said furnace; admitting a pressurizing gas medium into said high pressure container while raising the temperature of said furnace such that said item to be worked on in said crucible undergoes a hot isostatic pressing treatment; and upon completion of said hot isostatic treatment, removing said furnace from said high pressure container with said item to be worked being maintained in a loaded state.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
174 words
A method of hot isostatic pressing in which a shaped item to be worked immersed in molten glass in subjected to a hot isostatic pressing treatment, said method comprising: embedding said shaped item to be worked in glass powder disposed in a crucible; loading said crucible into a movable heating furnace having a heater and a heat insulating structure; charging said furnace into an atmospheric chamber; adjusting the atmosphere in said chamber to a predetermined condition and heating said crucible by said heater to soften and melt said glass in said crucible; transferring said furnace from said atmospheric chamber into a high pressure container while maintaining a high temperature in said furnace; admitting a pressurizing gas medium into said high pressure container while raising the temperature of said furnace such that said item to be worked on in said crucible undergoes a hot isostatic pressing treatment; and upon completion of said hot isostatic treatment, removing said furnace from said high pressure container with said item to be worked being maintained in a loaded state.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method of hot isostatic pressing as set forth in claim 1, wherein said shaped item to be worked further comprises a green compact of ceramic powder.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method of hot isostatic pressing as set forth in claim 1, wherein said crucible is of graphite and has an upwardly diverging inner shape.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
44 words
A method of hot isostatic pressing as set forth is claims 1, 2 or 3, which further comprises applying a parting agent to the surfaces of said item to be worked on prior to loading into said crucible for preventing adhesion of molten glass.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
36 words
A method of hot isostatic pressing as set forth in claims 1, 2 or 3, which further comprises coating said crucible with a parting agent on the inner surfaces thereof to prevent adhesion of molten glass.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method of hot isostatic pressing as set forth in claim 4, wherein said parting agent comprises boron nitride powder.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
27 words
A method of hot isostatic pressing as set forth in claims 1, 2 or 3, which further comprises loading a plurality of crucibles into said heating furnace.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
244 words
A method of hot isostatic pressing in which a shaped item to be worked immersed in molten glass is subjected to a hot isostatic pressing treatment, the method including a repeated cycle of operation which comprises the steps of: providing a plurality of movable heating furnaces each having a heater and a heat insulating structure, more than one atmospheric chamber, and a high pressure container; embedding said item to be worked in glass powder disposed in a crucible; loading the crucible into a first furnace; charging said first furnace into an atmospheric chamber and adjusting the atmosphere of said chamber to a predetermined condition while heating said crucible in said furnace by said heater to soften and melt said glass in said crucible; transferring said first furnace from said atmospheric chamber to said high pressure container while maintaining said furnace at a high temperature; introducing a pressing gas medium into said high pressure container while raising the furnace temperature such that said item to be worked on in said crucible undergoes a hot isostatic pressing treatment; sending a second heating furnace into said atmospheric chamber having a second item to be worked on similarly embedded in glass powder in a crucible to soften and melt the glass powder while conducting said hot isostatic pressing treatment; taking out said first heating furnace from said high pressure container upon completion of said hot isostatic treatment; and succeedingly charging said second furnace into said high pressure container.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
244 words
A method of hot isostatic pressing in which a shaped item to be worked immersed in molten glass is subjected to a hot isostatic pressing treatment, the method including a repeated cycle of operation which comprises the steps of: providing a plurality of movable heating furnaces each having a heater and a heat insulating structure, more than one atmospheric chamber, and a high pressure container; embedding said item to be worked in glass powder disposed in a crucible; loading the crucible into a first furnace; charging said first furnace into an atmospheric chamber and adjusting the atmosphere of said chamber to a predetermined condition while heating said crucible in said furnace by said heater to soften and melt said glass in said crucible; transferring said first furnace from said atmospheric chamber to said high pressure container while maintaining said furnace at a high temperature; introducing a pressing gas medium into said high pressure container while raising the furnace temperature such that said item to be worked on in said crucible undergoes a hot isostatic pressing treatment; sending a second heating furnace into said atmospheric chamber having a second item to be worked on similarly embedded in glass powder in a crucible to soften and melt the glass powder while conducting said hot isostatic pressing treatment; taking out said first heating furnace from said high pressure container upon completion of said hot isostatic treatment; and succeedingly charging said second furnace into said high pressure container.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method of hot isostatic pressing as set forth in claim 8, wherein said shaped item to be worked on further comprises a molded ceramic material.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
27 words
A method of hot isostatic pressing as set forth in claims 8 or 9, wherein said crucible further comprises graphite and has an upwardly diverging inner shape.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
40 words
A method of hot isostatic pressing as set forth in claims 8 or 9, which further comprises applying a parting agent to said item to be worked on prior to loading into said crucible for preventing adhesion of molten glass.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
35 words
A method of hot isostatic pressing as set forth in claims 8 or 9, which further comprises coating said crucible with a parting agent on the inner surfaces thereof to prevent adhesion of molten glass.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method of hot isostatic pressing as set forth in claim 11, wherein said parting agent further comprises boron nitride powder.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
34 words
A method of hot isostatic pressing as set forth in claims 8 or 9, which further comprises simultaneously loading a plurality of crucibles into a single heating furnace of said plurality of heating furnaces.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method of hot isostatic pressing as set forth in claim 12, wherein said parting agent comprises boron nitride powder.