Systems and methods for vacuum furnace post-processing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11802732-B2
Application number	US-202117187105-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 26, 2021
Priority date	Feb 26, 2021
Publication date	Oct 31, 2023
Grant date	Oct 31, 2023

Abstract

A method of generating a loaded layout in a vacuum furnace corresponding to an actual layout in the vacuum furnace during operation of the vacuum furnace may comprise receiving, via a processor, a visual data of a loading process of the vacuum furnace from a camera; comparing, via the processor, the visual data to a predetermined maximum capacity layout for the vacuum furnace; and arranging, via the processor, the visual data into the loaded layout in response to comparing the visual data.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of generating a loaded layout in a vacuum furnace corresponding to an actual layout in the vacuum furnace during operation of the vacuum furnace, the method comprising:
receiving, via a processor, a visual data of a loading process of the vacuum furnace from a camera, the visual data including a first image showing a first row of components and a second image showing a second row of components;
comparing, via the processor, the first image and the second image of the visual data to a predetermined maximum capacity layout for the vacuum furnace, the predetermined maximum capacity layout including X number of baskets wide by Y number of baskets long by Z number of baskets high; and
arranging, via the processor, the visual data into the loaded layout in response to comparing the visual data, wherein the loaded layout includes a placeholder image in a location in the actual layout in the vacuum furnace, the placeholder image indicating a basket in the predetermined maximum capacity layout lacks a corresponding component in the first row of components or the second row of components.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising sending, via the processor, the loaded layout to a display device.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising storing, via the processor, the loaded layout for a batch load in the furnace for at least one of traceability, root cause analysis, or quality investigations.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein:
the visual data includes a visual image for each row of components disposed in the vacuum furnace, and
the loaded layout displayed on the display device includes the visual image for each row corresponding a respective location a component in the visual image was in the vacuum furnace.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the visual data is video data.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the loaded layout includes a two-dimensional image.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the loaded layout includes a three-dimensional image.

8. A method, comprising:
capturing a visual data of a vacuum furnace loading process, the visual data including a first image of a first row of components disposed on a loading stand and a second image of a second row of components disposed on the loading stand in a vacuum furnace, the loading stand configured to be placed in the vacuum furnace; and
arranging the first image and the second image into a layout image, the layout image including the first image, the second image, and location indicators, the location indicators corresponding to a position of components within the vacuum furnace during operation of the vacuum furnace, wherein the layout image includes a placeholder image indicating a component in a predetermined maximum capacity layout lacks a corresponding component in the first row of components or the second row of components.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein capturing the visual data is captured via a camera.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the visual data is video data.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first image and the second image were captured as still images.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the layout image is a three-dimensional image.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first row of components includes a first basket with a first set of components and a second basket with a second set of components.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the first set of components are different from the second set of components.

15. A control system for vacuum furnace post processing, the control system comprising:
a camera configured to be disposed with a line of sight to a loading stand;
a controller configured to operably couple to the camera, the controller configured to:
receive, through the camera, visual data corresponding to a loading process of a plurality of baskets on the loading stand, each basket in the plurality of baskets having a component disposed therein the visual data including a first image showing a first row of components and a second image showing a second row of components; and
arrange the visual data into a loaded layout, the loaded layout corresponding to an actual layout of the plurality of baskets during after the loading process, wherein the loaded layout includes a placeholder image in a location in the actual layout in the vacuum furnace, the placeholder image indicating a basket in a predetermined maximum capacity layout lacks a corresponding component in the first row of components or the second row of components.

16. The control system of claim 15 , wherein the controller is further configured to compare the visual data to a predetermined maximum capacity layout prior to arranging the visual data.

17. The control system of claim 16 , wherein arranging the visual data into the loaded layout is in response to comparing the visual data to the predetermined maximum capacity layout.

18. The control system of claim 15 , further comprising a plurality of cameras, the plurality of cameras including the camera.

19. The control system of claim 18 , wherein the controller is further configured to generate a three-dimensional image for the loaded layout.

20. The control system of claim 15 , wherein the first row of baskets is disposed between the loading stand and the second row of baskets.

Assignees

• Raytheon Tech Corp
• Rtx Corp

Inventors

• Oo Guolin

Classifications

• F27D21/02 Primary

  Observation or illuminating devices · CPC title

• F27D7/06

  Forming or maintaining special atmospheres or vacuum within heating chambers (supplying steam, vapour, gases or liquids F27D7/02) · CPC title

• F27D2007/066

  Vacuum · CPC title

• F27D2021/026

  using a video installation · CPC title

• F27D3/00 Primary

  Charging; Discharging; Manipulation of charge · CPC title