Modular oven

• US 4,764,108 A
• Filed: 04/03/1987
• Issued: 08/16/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Haden Schweitzer Corporation
• Original Assignee: Haden Schweitzer Corporation
• Inventors: Donahue, Joseph D., Carthew, Maximilian K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yuen, Henry C.
• Application Number:
  US07/034,799
• Time in Patent Office: 501 Days
• Field of Search: 432/247, 432/251, 432/3, 432/128, 432/164, 432/192, 110/336, 110/173 B, 110/332
• US Class Current: 432/128
• CPC Class Codes: F27B 9/029 Multicellular type furnaces constructed with add-on modules
• CPC Class Codes: F27B 9/32 Casings
• CPC Class Codes: F27D 1/00 Casings; Linings; Walls; Roofs refractory materials C04B; firebridges for combustion chambers F23M3/00
• CPC Class Codes: F27D 1/06 Composite bricks or blocks , e.g. panels, modules
• CPC Class Codes: F27D 1/145 Assembling elements

Abstract

An oven construction in which an elongated oven assembly is provided by manufacturing a plurality of oven modules at a factory location and then shipping the modules to the usage site where they are assembled together in end-to-end fashion to form the final oven assembly. Each oven module includes an outer shell and an inner shell mounted so as to be spaced apart for insulation therebetween. The shells are interconnected at one point along the length thereof, but are allowed to expand differentially along the remainder of their lengths. The outer shell is rigidly tied to a foundation but the inner shell, through any of various approaches, is allowed to slide or move relative to the foundation everywhere except the one point where it is secured to the outer shell. Each module has a bellows-type expansion joint around the periphery of one end to allow for interconnection of the modules, one to another.

Claims

1. An oven comprising:

a plurality of longitudinally extending oven modules positioned in end-to-end relation;

each of said modules having an outer shell and an inner shell and insulating material disposed between said shells;

at least one of said modules having a roof panel including self-releasing connector means for joining said panel to said one module;

said connector means including inner connecting elements adapted to engage inner fastening elements disposed on the inner shell of said one module and outer connecting elements adapted to engage outer fastening elements disposed on the outer shell of said one module;

said respective connecting elements and fastening elements having a configuration to permit self-releasing disengagement upon a sudden increase in pressure within said oven and to thereby allow separation of said panel from said one module without substantial damage to said one module;

said connector means also including a seal between said panel and said one module; and

said connecting elements and fastening elements forming movable joints to permit relative movement between said panel and said one module due to thermal expansion and contraction.

2. The oven of claim 1 wherein said inner connecting elements are positioned to pass between said outer fastening elements as said roof panel disengages from said one module.

3. The oven of claim 1 wherein said inner connecting elements comprise upstanding flanges with inverted U-shaped members and said outer connecting elements comprise depending generally flat flanges;

and wherein said inner fastening elements comprise upstanding generally flat flanges adapted for receipt within said inverted U-shaped members, and said outer fastening elements comprise depending flanges with U-shaped members adapted to receive said depending flat flanges.