Apparatus and process for generating radiant energy

Claim 2

A radiant wall structure for a heat transfer oven for drying objects passed along a prescribed path therethrough, comprising: (a) a conveyor for transporting objects successively along said projected path; (b) a radiant emitting wall curving about a horizontal axis and defining a continuously concave, radiant energy emitting surface along the entire radiant emitting wall; (c) a second wall spaced from said radiant emitting wall for creating a chamber therebetween; and (d) heating means communicating with said chamber for directing heated gases through said chamber, wherein the cross-sectional area of said chamber progressively varies for varying the velocity of said gases directed through said chamber to thereby vary the amount of heat delivered to selected increments of said radiant emitting wall.

Claim 5

The radiant wall structure of claim 1, wherein said heating means comprises a linear burner.

Claim 6

The radiant wall structure of claim 1, wherein said heating means is disposed between said radiant emitting wall and said second wall.

Claim 7

The radiant wall structure of claim 1, further comprising an exhaust means for withdrawing said gas from said chamber.

Claim 8

The radiant wall structure of claim 1, further comprising a baffle means mounted along said second wall within said chamber for forcing said gas against said radiant emitting wall.

Claim 9

The radiant wall structure of claim 1, further comprising access means disposed in said radiant emitting wall for providing access to said chamber.

Claim 10

The radiant wall structure of claim 1, further comprising duct means disposed along the upper portion of said radiant emitting wall for allowing air from said chamber and from an outer side of said radiant emitting wall to pass through said duct means and along the outer side of said second wall, and wherein said second wall defines an opening along its lower portion for allowing said air to enter said chamber.

Claim 11

The radiant wall structure of claim 1, further comprising fresh make-up means for delivering air outwardly away from said radiant emitting wall.

Claim 12

The radiant wall structure of claim 5, wherein said exhaust means further comprises a centrifugal blower.

Claim 13

The radiant wall structure of claim 9, further comprising means for preheating said air before passing it outwardly away from said outer surface of said radiant emitting wall.

Claim 14

A radiant wall structure, comprising: (a) a radiant emitting wall having an exterior radiant energy emitting surface and an interior surface, said exterior radiant energy emitting surface being entirely continuously concave; (b) a second wall spaced outwardly a distance from said radiant emitting wall for defining a combustion chamber therebetween; and (c) heating means disposed within said combustion chamber for delivering heated gas through said combustion chamber, and imparting heat to said radiant emitting wall whereby the distance between said radiant emitting wall and said second wall is selectively varied to vary the velocity of said heated gas to thereby vary temperature along said radiant emitting wall; and (d) directional vent means disposed between said radiant emitting wall and said second wall for directing said heated gas delivered through said combustion chamber.

Claim 15

A radiant wall structure, comprising: (a) a radiant emitting wall having an exterior radiant energy emitting surface and an interior surface, said exterior radiant energy emitting surface being entirely continuously concave; (b) a second wall spaced outwardly a distance from said radiant emitting wall for defining a combustion chamber therebetween; and (c) heating means disposed within said combustion chamber for delivering heated gas through said combustion chamber, and imparting heat to said radiant emitting wall whereby the distance between said radiant emitting wall and said second wall is selectively varied to vary the velocity of said heated gas to thereby vary temperature along said radiant emitting wall; and (d) directional vent means disposed between said radiant emitting wall and said second wall for directing said heated gas delivered through said combustion chamber.

Claim 16

The radiant wall structure of claim 12, further comprising a cascade plate means mounted along said radiant emitting wall for controlling the convective energy which is absorbed from said radiant emitting wall.

Claim 17

The radiant wall structure of claim 12, further comprising duct means disposed along the upper portion of said radiant emitting wall for allowing air from said combustion chamber and from an outer side of said radiant emitting wall to pass through said duct means and along the outer side of said second wall, and wherein said second wall defines an opening along its lower portion for allowing said air to enter said combustion chamber.

Claim 18

The radiant wall structure of claim 12, further comprising a fresh make-up air means for delivering air outwardly away from said exterior radiant energy emitting surface of said radiant emitting wall.

Claim 19

The radiant wall structure of claim 15, wherein said fresh make-up air means includes a duct spaced outwardly from said second wall and a portion of said duct passing through said second wall and said radiant emitter wall and defining a port spaced outwardly from said exterior radiant energy emitting surface of said radiant emitter wall.

Claim 20

The radiant wall structure of claim 16, wherein said fresh make-up air means includes blower means for delivering fresh air through said duct and said port and outwardly from said exterior radiant energy emitting surface of said radiant emitting wall.

Claim 21

The radiant wall structure of claim 17, wherein said blower means further comprises a centrifugal blower.

Claim 22

The radiant wall structure defined in claim 17, wherein said fresh make-up air means further comprises damper means to vary the quantity of air delivered by said fresh air duct means.

Claim 23

The radiant wall structure of claim 19, wherein said damper means further comprises a damper and a controller means connected to said damper to automatically control the actuation of said damper to vary the quantity of air delivered by said fresh air duct means.

Claim 24

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said means for providing heated gases comprises a linear burner.

Claim 25

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said means for providing heated gases is disposed between said first wall and said second wall.

Claim 26

The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising an exhaust means for withdrawing said gases from said chamber.

Claim 27

The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a baffle means mounted along said second wall within said chamber for forcing said gases against said first wall.

Claim 28

The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising access means disposed in said first wall for providing access to said chamber.

Claim 29

The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising duct means disposed along the upper portion of said first wall for allowing air from said chamber and from the outer side of said first wall to pass through said duct means and along the outer side of said second wall, and wherein said second wall defines an opening along its lower portion for allowing said air to enter said chamber.

Claim 30

The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising fresh make-up air means for delivering air outwardly away from said first wall.

Claim 31

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said chamber is progressively increased for varying the velocity of said gases directed through said chamber.

Claim 32

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said chamber is progressively decreased for varying the velocity of said gases directed through said chamber.

Claim 33

The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said exhaust means comprises a centrifugal blower.

Claim 34

The apparatus of claim 30, further comprising means for preheating said air before passing said air outwardly away from said first wall.

Claim 35

A heater for a heat transfer oven for drying paint coatings, comprising: a first wall having a continuously concave, radiant energy emitting surface; a second wall spaced from said first wall for creating a chamber therebetween; heating means communicating with said chamber for directing heated gases through said chamber; and said chamber having a varying cross-sectional area for varying the velocity of said heated gases moving in said chamber to thereby vary the amount of heat delivered to successive increments of said first wall.

Claim 36

A heater for a heat transfer oven for drying paint coatings, comprising: a first wall having a continuously concave, radiant energy emitting surface; a second wall spaced from said first wall for creating a chamber therebetween; heating means communicating with said chamber for directing heated gases through said chamber; and said chamber having a varying cross-sectional area for varying the velocity of said heated gases moving in said chamber to thereby vary the amount of heat delivered to successive increments of said first wall.

Claim 37

A radiant wall structure for a heat transfer oven for drying objects passed along a prescribed path therethrough, comprising: (a) a conveyor for transporting objects successively along said prescribed path; (b) a radiant emitting wall curving about a horizontal axis and defining a substantially continuously concave, radiant energy emitting surface; (c) a second wall spaced from said radiant emitting wall for creating a chamber therebetween; (d) heating means communicating with said chamber for directing heated gases through said chamber, wherein the cross-sectional area of said chamber progressively varies for varying the velocity of said gases directed through said chamber to thereby vary the amount of heat delivered to selected increments of said radiant emitting wall; and (e) duct means disposed along the upper portion of said radiant emitting wall for allowing air from said chamber and from an outer side of said radiant emitting wall to pass through said duct means and along the outer side of said second wall, and wherein said second wall defines an opening along its lower portion for allowing said air to enter said chamber.

Claim 38

A radiant wall structure for a heat transfer oven for drying objects passed along a prescribed path therethrough, comprising: (a) a conveyor for transporting objects successively along said prescribed path; (b) a radiant emitting wall curving about a horizontal axis and defining a substantially continuously concave, radiant energy emitting surface; (c) a second wall spaced from said radiant emitting wall for creating a chamber therebetween; (d) heating means communicating with said chamber for directing heated gases through said chamber, wherein the cross-sectional area of said chamber progressively varies for varying the velocity of said gases directed through said chamber to thereby vary the amount of heat delivered to selected increments of said radiant emitting wall; and (e) duct means disposed along the upper portion of said radiant emitting wall for allowing air from said chamber and from an outer side of said radiant emitting wall to pass through said duct means and along the outer side of said second wall, and wherein said second wall defines an opening along its lower portion for allowing said air to enter said chamber.

Claim 39

A radiant wall structure for a heat transfer oven for drying objects passed along a prescribed path therethrough, comprising: (a) a conveyor for transporting objects successively along said projected path; (b) radiant emitting wall curving about a horizontal axis and defining a substantially continuously concave, radiant energy emitting surface; (c) a second wall spaced from said radiant emitting wall for creating a chamber therebetween; (d) heating means communicating with said chamber for directing heated gases through said chamber, wherein the cross-sectional area of said chamber progressively varies for varying the velocity of said gases directed through said chamber to thereby vary the amount of heat delivered to selected increments of said radiant emitting wall; and (e) fresh make-up air means for delivering air outwardly away from said radiant emitting wall.

Claim 40

A radiant wall structure for a heat transfer oven for drying objects passed along a prescribed path therethrough, comprising: (a) a conveyor for transporting objects successively along said projected path; (b) radiant emitting wall curving about a horizontal axis and defining a substantially continuously concave, radiant energy emitting surface; (c) a second wall spaced from said radiant emitting wall for creating a chamber therebetween; (d) heating means communicating with said chamber for directing heated gases through said chamber, wherein the cross-sectional area of said chamber progressively varies for varying the velocity of said gases directed through said chamber to thereby vary the amount of heat delivered to selected increments of said radiant emitting wall; and (e) fresh make-up air means for delivering air outwardly away from said radiant emitting wall.

Claim 41

The radiant wall structure of claim 34, further comprising means for preheating said air before passing it outwardly away from said outer surface of said radiant emitting wall.

Claim 42

A radiant wall structure, comprising: (a) a radiant emitting wall having an exterior radiant energy emitting surface and an interior surface; (b) a second wall spaced outwardly a distance from said radiant emitting wall for defining a combustion chamber therebetween; (c) heating means disposed within said combustion chamber for delivering heated gas through said combustion chamber, and imparting heat to said radiant emitting wall whereby the distance between said radiant emitting wall and said second wall is selectively varied to vary the velocity of said heated gas to thereby vary temperature along said radiant emitting wall; (d) directional vent means disposed between said radiant emitting wall and said second wall for directing said heated gas delivered through said combustion chamber; and (e) duct means disposed along the upper portion of said radiant emitting wall for allowing air from said combustion chamber and from an outer side of said radiant emitting wall to pass through said duct means and along the outer side of said second wall, and wherein said second wall defines an opening along its lower portion for allowing said air to enter said combustion chamber.

Claim 43

A radiant wall structure, comprising: (a) a radiant emitting wall having an exterior radiant energy emitting surface and an interior surface; (b) a second wall spaced outwardly a distance from said radiant emitting wall for defining a combustion chamber therebetween; (c) heating means disposed within said combustion chamber for delivering heated gas through said combustion chamber, and imparting heat to said radiant emitting wall whereby the distance between said radiant emitting wall and said second wall is selectively varied to vary the velocity of said heated gas to thereby vary temperature along said radiant emitting wall; (d) directional vent means disposed between said radiant emitting wall and said second wall for directing said heated gas delivered through said combustion chamber; and (e) duct means disposed along the upper portion of said radiant emitting wall for allowing air from said combustion chamber and from an outer side of said radiant emitting wall to pass through said duct means and along the outer side of said second wall, and wherein said second wall defines an opening along its lower portion for allowing said air to enter said combustion chamber.

Claim 44

The radiant wall structure of claim 36, further comprising fresh makeup air means for delivering air outwardly away from said exterior radiant energy emitting surface of said radiant emitting wall and wherein said fresh makeup air means includes a duct spaced outwardly from said second wall and a portion of said duct passing through said second wall and said radiant emitting wall and defining a port spaced outwardly from said exterior radiant energy emitting surface of said radiant emitting wall.

Claim 45

The radiant wall structure of claim 37, wherein said fresh makeup air means includes blower means for delivering fresh air through said duct and said port and outwardly from said exterior radiant energy emitting surface of said radiant emitting wall.

Claim 46

The radiant wall structure of claim 38, wherein said blower means further comprises a centrifugal blower.

Claim 47

The radiant wall structure defined in claim 38, wherein said fresh makeup air means further comprises damper means to vary the quantity of air delivered by said fresh air duct means.

Claim 48

The radiant wall structure of claim 40, wherein said damper means further comprises a damper and a controller means connected to said damper to automatically control the actuation of said damper to vary the quantity of air delivered by said fresh air duct means.