Continuous vacuum heat-treatment furnace - using inert gas in cooling and transfer chambers for annealing or sintering

摘要

In this surface, the heating chamber is mounted above a cooling chamber, the ends of both chambers being connected by transfer zones contg. platforms which move vertically forming seals for the vacuum in the heating chamber and which also move the charge from one chamber to the other. A second pair of platforms, mounted at each end of the gas-filled cooling chamber are used to seal the transfer chambers and also to move the charge vertically. Means are also provided for pushing or pulling charge containers on each of three levels, plus gas and vacuum connections and rails along which the charge containers or trolleys can roll. The furnace is used for annealing or sintering followed by forced, rapid cooling in an inert gas.