US3669431A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Boat pulling apparatus for diffusion furnace and method
Assignee: Signetics Corp
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Filing: 1971-01-25
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Granted: 1972-06-13
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Expires: 1991-01-25
Abstract
Abstract Boat pulling apparatus for use with a diffusion furnace having motive means, means connecting the motive means to the boat, and means for controlling the operation of the motive means whereby the boat is withdrawn at a predetermined rate of speed from the diffusion furnace.
Inventors
- 👤 Andris Lenss
- 👤 Lionel A Kirton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:30
CPC Classifications
C; C30; C30B; C30B31/00; C30B31/06; C30B31/10; C30B31/103; C21; C21D; C21D9/00; C21D9/0006; C21D9/0018; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S414/00; Y10S414/135; Y10S414/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
140 words
In a boat pulling apparatus for use with a diffusion furnace of the type having a horizontally disposed elongate tube open at one end and adapted to have a boat inserted therein and movable longitudinally of the tube, support means adapted to be disposed in the vicinity of the open end of the tube, said support means including a horizontally disposed tray support lying in the same general plane as the bottom portion of the tube, a chain formed of a plurality of interconnected links, means carried by one end of the chain adapted to be secured to the boat, motive means carried by the support means, and means connecting the other end of the chain to the motive means whereby as the motive means is operated the chain and the boat attached thereto are withdrawn at a predetermined rate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
140 words
In a boat pulling apparatus for use with a diffusion furnace of the type having a horizontally disposed elongate tube open at one end and adapted to have a boat inserted therein and movable longitudinally of the tube, support means adapted to be disposed in the vicinity of the open end of the tube, said support means including a horizontally disposed tray support lying in the same general plane as the bottom portion of the tube, a chain formed of a plurality of interconnected links, means carried by one end of the chain adapted to be secured to the boat, motive means carried by the support means, and means connecting the other end of the chain to the motive means whereby as the motive means is operated the chain and the boat attached thereto are withdrawn at a predetermined rate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said chain is formed of material which can withstand the high temperatures encountered in a diffusion furnace.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said chain is formed of interconnected quartz links.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
82 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said means securing said chain to said boat includes a hook-like member and fulcrum means carried by the hook-like member positioned so that when a pulling force is applied to the chain, the hook portion of the hook-like member is moved upwardly to lift the boat upwardly away from the tube to thereby break the boat away from the tube in the event that the boat has become stuck to the tube during a diffusion operation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 together with timing means, said timing means including contact means and means operated by the timing means for causing operation of said contact means to deenergize the motive means after a predetermined period of time.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus as in claim 5 together with means carried by the support meanS for deenergizing the motive means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said means connecting the other end of the chain to the motive means includes a pulley, means for securing the pulley to the motive means and means connecting the chain to the pulley.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said support means includes a tray having a generally horizontal portion and upwardly extending side walls.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 together with an idler pulley mounted on said support means and wherein said chain is adapted to travel over said idler pulley.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
78 words
In a method for removing a boat from a diffusion furnace of the type having a horizontally disposed elongate tube open at one end and adapted to have a boat inserted therein and movable longitudinally of the tube, inserting the boat in the tube, completing a diffusion operation, removing the boat from the tube at a predetermined rate of speed and stopping movement of the boat after the boat has reached a predetermined position out of the tube.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
78 words
In a method for removing a boat from a diffusion furnace of the type having a horizontally disposed elongate tube open at one end and adapted to have a boat inserted therein and movable longitudinally of the tube, inserting the boat in the tube, completing a diffusion operation, removing the boat from the tube at a predetermined rate of speed and stopping movement of the boat after the boat has reached a predetermined position out of the tube.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as in claim 10 together with the step of determining the period of time that the boat is in the diffusion furnace, and automatically removing the boat from the furnace after the predetermined time has elapsed.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-06-13 | 1975-12-13 | 1976-06-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-06-13 | 1979-12-13 | 1980-06-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-06-13 | 1983-12-13 | 1984-06-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |