Communications: directive radio wave systems and devices (e.g. – With particular circuit – For frequency modulation
Reexamination Certificate
2003-03-06
2004-09-21
Lu, Jiping (Department: 3749)
Communications: directive radio wave systems and devices (e.g.,
With particular circuit
For frequency modulation
C432S253000, C432S258000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06795016
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a thermal processing jig for thermally processing a workpiece placed on a top surface thereof. More particularly, this invention is used as a jig for connecting plural members by brazing or the like, in which the plural members are connected by disposing brazing material at connecting portions between the plural members serving as a workpiece; then by mounting the workpiece applied with the brazing material on a top surface of the jig, then by placing the workpiece into a high temperature furnace, and then by melting the brazing material. This invention is also used as a jig for thermally processing plural workpieces coated with surface treatment material, e.g., thermosetting coating, in which the workpieces are thermally processed by mounting the workpieces on a top surface of the jig, and then by disposing the workpieces for a prescribed period into a high temperature furnace for heating the workpieces to a prescribed temperature.
2. Description of Related Art
In a conventional thermal processing jig, for example, a jig
20
shown in
FIG. 4
including an outer peripheral frame
21
for structuring the jig
20
, a mounting portion
22
for mounting a workpiece thereon, and a stay
24
is formed rigidly by employing thick members and by fixedly connecting the members with welds
23
. In a case where the jig
20
having a workpiece mounted thereon is placed into a furnace, high-temperature heat causes thermal stress upon the jig
20
, and often results in deformation of the jig
20
. Therefore, in order to prevent deformation of the thermal processing jig, thick members are used for forming the jig rigidly.
Since the members of the rigidly formed jig are heated up from a cold state in a frequent and repetitive manner, then exposed to a high temperature atmosphere of 1100° C. or more inside a furnace, and then cooled to a cold state, the members are subject to considerable deformation caused by welding stress in a manufacturing process and internal stress from the property of the material due to heat difference between the heating process and the cooling process. In association with the deformation of the members, the workpiece mounted on the top surface of the mounting portion will also deform. Accordingly, a subsequent process of inspecting all products and an additional process of relieving the stress are necessary for products requiring accurate dimensional tolerance.
Forming the thick and rigid jig causes the jig to become heavy. Therefore, the weight of the jig itself will take up a large portion of the entire weight in processing with the furnace. That is, absorption of thermal energy by the jig has no significance from an aspect of heating energy. Most preferably, heating energy should only be applied upon the workpiece disposed inside the furnace. However, in reality, a considerable amount of heat is absorbed by the conventional rigid jig in a case where the jig and the workpiece are placed in a same atmosphere of high temperature. Therefore, a large space for a heating zone of the furnace and a long time for the heating process are required for the conventional jig. At the same time, since the jig has large thermal capacity, the jig is difficult to cool into a cold state. Therefore, a large space for a cooling zone when using a continuous thermal processing furnace and a long time for a cooling process are required for the jig. Repetitively using the jig for a numerous amount of times causes considerable thermal stress and results to considerable deformation, even to the rigidly formed jig. The thermally deformed jigs were disposed of since the jigs were difficult to be reused. Not only is the jig used for a short period, but is also unable to use thermal energy efficiently due to the large amount of heat absorption of the jig. Therefore, a large sized furnace and high running cost was necessary for the conventional jig.
It is an object this invention to solve the foregoing problems by providing a jig causing no or hardly any deformation from thermal stress upon the jig in a case where the jig is disposed into a thermal furnace along with a workpiece, thereby allowing the jig to be used for a period considerably longer than the conventional jig. By forming a thin and light-weight jig, the productivity for the operator can be increased, the amount of heat absorption of the jig placed inside a furnace can be reduced to enable a more efficient thermal processing of a workpiece, and the apparatus for thermal processing can be size-reduced to enable reduction in initial cost and running cost.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention provides a thermal processing jig for a workpiece including: an outer peripheral frame formed of a plurality of members; and a mounting portion arranged within the outer peripheral frame for mounting the workpiece, wherein the outer peripheral frame and the mounting portion are movably connected, wherein the plurality of members forming the outer peripheral frame are connected via an expansion space capable of absorbing expansion caused during thermal expansion of the outer peripheral frame and the mounting portion, and wherein the plurality of members forming the outer peripheral frame and a member constituting the mounting portion are connected via the expansion space.
This invention can also provide a thermal processing jig for a workpiece, wherein the outer peripheral frame and the mounting portion are movably connected by piercingly forming an insertion aperture at a connecting portion between the outer peripheral frame and the mounting portion, and by inserting the connection axis through the insertion aperture, for enabling each member of the outer peripheral frame and the mounting portion to move at the connection portion during thermal expansion of the outer peripheral frame and the mounting portion, wherein the insertion aperture is formed for inserting the connection axis therethrough, and wherein the connection axis has a diameter smaller than the insertion aperture.
This invention can also provide a thermal processing jig for a workpiece, wherein the plurality of members forming the outer peripheral frame are directly connected to each other, and wherein the plurality of members forming the outer peripheral frame and the mounting portion are directly connected.
This invention can also provide a thermal processing jig for a workpiece, wherein the plurality of members forming the outer peripheral frame are connected to each other via an intermediary attachment member, and wherein the plurality of members forming the outer peripheral frame and the mounting portion are connected via the intermediary member.
This invention can also provide a thermal processing jig for a workpiece, wherein the connection axis is removably connected to the insertion aperture.
This invention can also provide a thermal processing jig for a workpiece, wherein the connection axis is unremovably connected to the insertion aperture.
This invention can also provide a thermal processing jig for a workpiece, wherein the mounting portion is formed with a plurality of members.
This invention can also provide a thermal processing jig for a workpiece, wherein the mounting portion is formed from a single connected member or a single united bodied member.
With this invention, a workpiece targeted for thermal processing is mounted on a top surface of a mounting portion of a jig, and the jig having the workpiece mounted thereon is disposed into a thermal furnace. The workpiece is heated inside the thermal furnace and thermally processed, e.g., brazed, while the thermal energy is inevitably absorbed by the jig. The heating cause thermal expansion upon the members forming the jig. Despite the thermal expansion caused upon the members, each member is movably connected; furthermore, expansion spaces for absorbing the expansion of the members are formed between the members of the outer peripheral frame and also between the outer peripheral frame and the mounting portion.
The expansion spaces formed
Akiyama Masaaki
Matsumoto Kazumi
Ogishima Akira
Sakamoto Koichi
Sugiyama Kazumasa
Jordan and Hamburg LLP
Lu Jiping
Usui Kokusai Sangyo Kaisha Ltd.
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