Systems and methods for vacuum furnace post-processing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022276006-A1
Application number	US-202117187105-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 26, 2021
Priority date	Feb 26, 2021
Publication date	Sep 1, 2022
Grant date	—

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

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; 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.

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 to a respective location that 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 the vacuum furnace, the loading stand configured to be placed in a 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.

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; 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.

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 plurality of baskets includes a first row of baskets and a second row of baskets, the first row of baskets disposed between the loading stand and the second row of baskets.

Assignees

• Raytheon Tech Corp

Inventors

• Oo Guolin

Classifications

• F27D3/00 Primary

  Charging; Discharging; Manipulation of charge · CPC title

• F27D19/00

  Arrangements of controlling devices · CPC title

• C21D9/0018

  for charging, discharging or manipulation of charge · CPC title

• F27D2003/0004

  involving devices for measuring the article, the stack of articles or the height of the furnace passage or for adjusting the height of the passage to the charge or for putting the articles in the same position · CPC title

• F27D21/00

  Arrangement of monitoring devices; Arrangement of safety devices · CPC title