US4616996A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Non-oxidizing atmosphere firing furnace for ceramic articles
Assignee: NGK Insulators Ltd
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Filing: 1985-08-19
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Granted: 1986-10-14
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Expires: 2005-08-19
Abstract
Abstract A non-oxidizing firing furnace for ceramic articles, which comprises a furnace chamber filled with a non-oxidizing gas, a conveyor mechanism provided on the floor portion of the furnace chamber and adapted to move the ceramic articles oppositely to a direction in which the non-oxidizing gas is flown through the furnace chamber for firing the ceramic articles; and at least one partition wall with the surface being composed of molybdenum which partition wall is provided at the ceiling portion of the furnace chamber to define a low temperature zone on the inlet side for the ceramic articles and a high temperature zone.
Inventors
- 👤 Takehiro Kajihara
- 👤 Mitsugu Suzuki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 00:39
CPC Classifications
F; F27; F27B; F27B9/00; F27B9/14; F27B9/20; F27B9/22; F27B9/04; F27B9/045; F27B9/047
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
97 words
A non-oxidizing atmosphere firing furnace for firing ceramic articles, comprising a furnace chamber filled with a non-oxidizing gas, a conveyor mechanism provided on a floor portion of the furnace chamber, said conveyor mechanism moving the ceramic articles opposite to a direction in which the non-oxidizing gas flows through the furnace chamber; and at least one partition wall having at least its surface composed of molybdenum, said partition wall being provided on a ceiling portion of the furnace chamber to define a low temperature zone on the inlet side for the ceramic articles and a high temperature zone.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
97 words
A non-oxidizing atmosphere firing furnace for firing ceramic articles, comprising a furnace chamber filled with a non-oxidizing gas, a conveyor mechanism provided on a floor portion of the furnace chamber, said conveyor mechanism moving the ceramic articles opposite to a direction in which the non-oxidizing gas flows through the furnace chamber; and at least one partition wall having at least its surface composed of molybdenum, said partition wall being provided on a ceiling portion of the furnace chamber to define a low temperature zone on the inlet side for the ceramic articles and a high temperature zone.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A non-oxidizing atmosphere firing furnace according to claim 1, wherein the partition walls comprise refractory bricks covered with molybdenum.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A non-oxidizing atmosphere firing furnace according to claim 1, wherein the non-oxidizing atmosphere gas comprises a reducing gas.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A non-oxidizing atmosphere firing furnace according to claim 2, wherein the ceramic articles to be fired consist essentially of alumina and magnesia.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
A non-oxidizing atmosphere firing furnace according to claim 4, wherein the fired ceramic articles comprise translucent alumina.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
138 words
A non-oxidizing atmosphere firing furnace for firing ceramic articles comprising: a furnace chamber having a floor portion, side wall portions and a ceiling portion, said furnace chamber being filled with a non-oxidizing gas; a conveyor mechanism provided in said floor portion, said conveyor mechanism moving the ceramic articles in a direction opposite to the direction that the non-oxidizing gas flows through the furnace chamber; and at least one partition wall extending from said ceiling portion toward said conveyor mechanism and located between said side wall portions, one side of said partition wall facing a high temperature zone of said furnace chamber and an opposite side of said partition wall facing a low temperature zone of said furnace chamber, at least the surface of said partition wall comprising a material selected from the group consisting of molybdenum and tungsten.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
138 words
A non-oxidizing atmosphere firing furnace for firing ceramic articles comprising: a furnace chamber having a floor portion, side wall portions and a ceiling portion, said furnace chamber being filled with a non-oxidizing gas; a conveyor mechanism provided in said floor portion, said conveyor mechanism moving the ceramic articles in a direction opposite to the direction that the non-oxidizing gas flows through the furnace chamber; and at least one partition wall extending from said ceiling portion toward said conveyor mechanism and located between said side wall portions, one side of said partition wall facing a high temperature zone of said furnace chamber and an opposite side of said partition wall facing a low temperature zone of said furnace chamber, at least the surface of said partition wall comprising a material selected from the group consisting of molybdenum and tungsten.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A non-oxidizing atmosphere firing furnace according to claim 6, wherein said at least one partition wall comprises refractory brick covered with molybdenum.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
A non-oxidizing atmosphere firing furnace according to claim 6, wherein said at least one partition wall comprises refractory brick covered with tungsten.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
A non-oxidizing atmosphere firing furnace according to claim 6, wherein said partition wall consists essentially of molybdenum.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
A non-oxidizing atmosphere firing furnace according to claim 6, wherein the non-oxidizing atmosphere comprises a reducing gas.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
A non-oxidizing atmosphere firing furnace according to claim 6, wherein the ceramic articles to be fired consist essentially of alumina and magnesia.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
A non-oxidizing atmosphere firing furnace according to claim 4, wherein the fired ceramic articles comprise translucent alumina.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
134 words
A non-oxidizing atmosphere firing furnace for firing ceramic articles comprising: a furnace chamber having a floor portion, side wall portions and a ceiling portion, said furnace chamber being filled with a non-oxidizing gas; a conveyor mechanism provided in said floor portion, said conveyor mechanism moving the ceramic articles in a direction opposite to the direction that the non-oxidizing gas flows through the furnace chamber; and at least two partition walls extending between said side wall portions, one side of each of said partition walls facing a high temperature zone of said furnace chamber and an opposite side of each of said partition walls facing a low temperature zone of said furnace chamber, at least the surface of each of said partition walls comprising a material selected from the group consisting of molybdenum and tungsten.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
134 words
A non-oxidizing atmosphere firing furnace for firing ceramic articles comprising: a furnace chamber having a floor portion, side wall portions and a ceiling portion, said furnace chamber being filled with a non-oxidizing gas; a conveyor mechanism provided in said floor portion, said conveyor mechanism moving the ceramic articles in a direction opposite to the direction that the non-oxidizing gas flows through the furnace chamber; and at least two partition walls extending between said side wall portions, one side of each of said partition walls facing a high temperature zone of said furnace chamber and an opposite side of each of said partition walls facing a low temperature zone of said furnace chamber, at least the surface of each of said partition walls comprising a material selected from the group consisting of molybdenum and tungsten.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
A non-oxidizing atmosphere firing furnace according to claim 13, wherein said at least two partition walls comprise refractory bricks covered with molybdenum.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
A non-oxidizing atmosphere firing furnace according to claim 13, wherein said at least two partition walls comprise refractory bricks covered with tungsten.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
A non-oxidizing atmosphere firing furnace according to claim 13, wherein said at least two partition walls consist essentially of molybdenum.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
A non-oxidizing atmosphere firing furnace according to claim 13, wherein the non-oxidizing atmosphere comprises a reducing gas.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
A non-oxidizing atmosphere firing furnace according to claim 13, wherein the ceramic articles to be fired consist essentially of alumina and magnesia.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-10-13 | 1990-04-14 | 1990-10-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-10-13 | 1994-04-14 | 1994-10-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-10-13 | 1998-04-14 | 1998-10-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |