Heat treatment apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025230518-A1
Application number	US-202519017092-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 10, 2025
Priority date	Jan 11, 2024
Publication date	Jul 17, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

A heat treatment apparatus includes a furnace body and a cooling device. The furnace body has therein a processing space where a workpiece is heat-treated. The cooling device cools the processing space within the furnace body. The furnace body is provided with a first opening and a second opening. The cooling device includes an inner pipe, an outer pipe, a refrigerant supply unit, and an air supply unit. The inner pipe is provided outside the furnace body. The inner pipe couples the first opening and the second opening. The outer pipe encloses at least a portion of a periphery of the inner pipe. The refrigerant supply unit supplies a refrigerant between the inner pipe and the outer pipe. The air supply unit sends air through the inner pipe from the first opening toward the second opening.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A heat treatment apparatus, comprising:
a furnace body having therein a processing space where a workpiece is heat-treated; and a cooling device that cools the processing space within the furnace body, wherein the furnace body is provided with a first opening and a second opening, and the cooling device comprises: an inner pipe provided outside the furnace body and coupling the first opening and the second opening; an outer pipe enclosing at least a portion of a periphery of the inner pipe; a refrigerant supply unit that supplies a refrigerant between the inner pipe and the outer pipe; and an air supply unit that sends air through the inner pipe from the first opening toward the second opening.

2 . The heat treatment apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the refrigerant supply unit supplies the refrigerant between the inner pipe and the outer pipe in a direction opposite to a direction in which the air is sent into the inner pipe.

3 . The heat treatment apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a flow path through which the refrigerant flows in a spiral manner is formed between the inner pipe and the outer pipe.

4 . The heat treatment apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first opening and the second opening are formed in a ceiling portion of the furnace body.

5 . The heat treatment apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a vacuum pump that reduces pressure in the processing space within the furnace body, wherein an atmospheric release valve that exposes the processing space to atmosphere is connected to the furnace body.

6 . The heat treatment apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the outer pipe is provided with a supply port through which the refrigerant is supplied and a discharge port through which the refrigerant is discharged, and the discharge port is provided at a position higher than the supply port.

7 . The heat treatment apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a plate that adjusts a flow path for air is provided within the inner pipe.

Assignees

• Noritake Co Ltd

Inventors

• Nakamura Hidenori
• Ohi Hideaki
• Iida Masaki

Classifications

• F26B5/047

  for continuous drying of material in long length, e.g. webs · CPC title

• F26B3/30

  from infrared-emitting elements {(by radiation emanating from passages containing heated fluids other than combustion gases F26B23/10)} · CPC title

• F26B13/12

  Controlling movement, tension or position of material · CPC title

• F26B13/08

  using rollers · CPC title

• F26B13/10

  Arrangements for feeding, heating or supporting materials; Controlling movement, tension or position of materials (heating processes F26B3/00) · CPC title