US3853637A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of treating articles under differential vacuum conditions with external gas flow
Assignee: HEAT VAC SYSTEMS INC A CORP OF N J
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Filing: 1973-06-25
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Granted: 1974-12-10
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Expires: 1993-06-25
Abstract
Abstract The process of treating articles in a vacuum which includes placing the articles in a first enclosure which is fluidly connected to a second enclosure through a fixed or variable orifice. The first enclosure may be physically located within the confines of the second enclosure or outside the confines thereof. A vacuum source is connected to the second enclosure and draws a vacuum therein to a range of from 10 microns to 6,700 microns and an external gas is continuously introduced into the first enclosure which results in a vacuum therein of from 100 microns to 10,000 microns. The gas may be inert or it may be functional i.e., reactive. It is desirable to keep the ratio of pressure in the first enclosure to pressure in the second enclosure in the range of from about 1.5:1 to about 20:1.
Inventors
- 👤 R Gray
- 👤 G Prochko
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:44
CPC Classifications
C; C21; C21D; C21D1/00; C21D1/74; C21D1/773
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
151 words
THE PROCESS OF TREATING ARTICLES OF MANUFACTURE COMPRISING THE STEPS OF PLACING THE ARTICLES WITHIN A FIRST ENCLOSURE WHICH IS FLUIDLY CONNECTED TO A SECOND ENCLOSURE THROUGH AN ORIFICE, CONTINUOUSLY DRAWING A VACCUM IN SAID SECOND ENCLOSURE FROM A VACCUM SOURCE TO PRODUCE A PRESSURE OF BETWEEN 10 MICRONS AND 6,700 MICRONS IN AID SECOND ENCLOSURE, CONTINUOUSLY INTRODUCING A GAS UNDER PRESSURE FROM AN EXTERIOR SOURCE INTO SAID FIRST ENCLOSURE WHICH GAS MAY BE INERT OR FUNCTIONAL SO AS TO ALWAYS MAINTAIN A HIGHER GAS PRESSURE IN SAID FIRST ENCLOSURE THAN IN SAID SECOND ENCLOSURE AND CAUSE CONTINUOUS GAS FLOW FROM SAID FIRST ENCLOSURE TO SAID SECOND ENCLOSURE THROUGH SAID ORIFICE, SAID PRESSURE IN SAID FIRST ENCLOAURE BEING BETWEEN 100 MICRONS AND 10,000 MICRONS, SAID CONTINUOUS GAS INTRODUCTION INTO SAID FIRST ENCLOSURE BEING AT SUCH A VOLUMETRIC FLOW RATE AS TO MAINTAIN SAID AFOREMENTIONED PRESSURES IN SAID FIRST AND SECOND ENCLOSURES.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
151 words
THE PROCESS OF TREATING ARTICLES OF MANUFACTURE COMPRISING THE STEPS OF PLACING THE ARTICLES WITHIN A FIRST ENCLOSURE WHICH IS FLUIDLY CONNECTED TO A SECOND ENCLOSURE THROUGH AN ORIFICE, CONTINUOUSLY DRAWING A VACCUM IN SAID SECOND ENCLOSURE FROM A VACCUM SOURCE TO PRODUCE A PRESSURE OF BETWEEN 10 MICRONS AND 6,700 MICRONS IN AID SECOND ENCLOSURE, CONTINUOUSLY INTRODUCING A GAS UNDER PRESSURE FROM AN EXTERIOR SOURCE INTO SAID FIRST ENCLOSURE WHICH GAS MAY BE INERT OR FUNCTIONAL SO AS TO ALWAYS MAINTAIN A HIGHER GAS PRESSURE IN SAID FIRST ENCLOSURE THAN IN SAID SECOND ENCLOSURE AND CAUSE CONTINUOUS GAS FLOW FROM SAID FIRST ENCLOSURE TO SAID SECOND ENCLOSURE THROUGH SAID ORIFICE, SAID PRESSURE IN SAID FIRST ENCLOAURE BEING BETWEEN 100 MICRONS AND 10,000 MICRONS, SAID CONTINUOUS GAS INTRODUCTION INTO SAID FIRST ENCLOSURE BEING AT SUCH A VOLUMETRIC FLOW RATE AS TO MAINTAIN SAID AFOREMENTIONED PRESSURES IN SAID FIRST AND SECOND ENCLOSURES.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the ratio of pressure in said first enclosure to pressure in said second enclosure is in the range of from about 1.5:1 to about 20:1.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
54 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the relationship between said first and second enclosures; the size of said orifice therebetween; and the gas throughput of said vacuum source being in such relationship as to permit the continuous external introduction of gas at flow rates in the range of from 0.1 CFH to 10 CFH.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
10 words
The process of claim 3, wherein said orifice is variable.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said articles of manufacture are heated to a temperature in the range of from ambient to 3, 000 C.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said gas which is introduced into said enclosure from said exterior source includes nitrogen, argon, oxygen, hydrogen, air or a hydrocarbon gas.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-12-09 | 1978-06-10 | 1978-12-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-09 | 1982-06-10 | 1982-12-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-09 | 1986-06-10 | 1986-12-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |