Furnace alignment system
First Claim
1. A pusher furnace comprising:
- a plurality of furnace sections each including a susceptor;
at least one slide rail extending through the furnace sections and adapted for slidably mounting pusher plates thereon;
wherein said pusher plates are distinct from the susceptors and adapted to carry thereon respective loads to be heated within the furnace; and
an alignment assembly for aligning the susceptors with one another.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A pusher furnace includes furnace sections having respective susceptors, a slide rail extending through the furnace sections for sliding pusher plates thereon and an alignment assembly for aligning the susceptors and slide rails of adjacent furnace sections. A support structure spaces the susceptors from insulation therebelow to protect the insulation from degradation from contact with the susceptors. The susceptors are slidably mounted on the support structure to accommodate thermal expansion and shrinkage of the susceptor. The upstream end of the slide rails have beveled upper edges to help prevent the pusher plates from catching thereon. The upstream ends are also laterally tapered to reduce the degree of force encountered should a pusher plate catch thereon. Adjacent insulation members have expansion joints filled with a refractory felt. The susceptors slidably and sealingly engage exhaust ports to allow for thermal expansion and shrinkage of the susceptor without damaging the exhaust port.
27 Citations
50 Claims
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1. A pusher furnace comprising:
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a plurality of furnace sections each including a susceptor; at least one slide rail extending through the furnace sections and adapted for slidably mounting pusher plates thereon;
wherein said pusher plates are distinct from the susceptors and adapted to carry thereon respective loads to be heated within the furnace; andan alignment assembly for aligning the susceptors with one another. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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Specification