Drying and gas or vapor contact with solids – Apparatus – Chamber seals
Patent
1996-02-07
1997-11-11
Bennett, Henry A.
Drying and gas or vapor contact with solids
Apparatus
Chamber seals
432242, 277 35, F26B 2520, F26B 2506
Patent
active
056850883
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sealing apparatus for hermetically sealing the inlet and/or the outlet of an atmosphere facility for atmosphere-heat-treating metal strips or for vacuum-evaporating metals or synthetic resins.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 10, strips such as metal strips are treated continuously in an atmosphere facility. For example, a metal strip 1 is subjected to heat treatment for annealing in a nonoxidizing atmosphere in a vertical bright annealing furnace 2. The metal strip 1 and the bright annealing furnace 2 are grounded electrically by a grounding line 3. The direction of the metal strip 1 is changed by rolls 4 disposed at appropriate positions, and the metal strip 1 enters the bright annealing furnace 2 from a sealed portion 5 of the inlet and is delivered from a sealed portion 6 of the outlet.
The bright annealing furnace 2 continuously anneals the metal strip 1, such as stainless steel strips, other alloy steel strips, high-alloy strips, copper alloy strips and copper strips, while preventing oxidation. For this purpose, a combustible gas having the danger of causing explosions and fires, for example, a gas including hydrogen gas, such as ammonia dissociated gas or a mixture gas of hydrogen and nitrogen, is used as a furnace atmosphere gas 7. Therefore, the sealing performances at the sealed portions 5 and 6 of the inlet or the outlet, respectively, are very important to ensure the quality of products and the safety of operation. The above-mentioned grounding line 3 also functions as a part of safety measures.
A typical prior art of sealing apparatus for sealing an inlet or an outlet is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Examined Patent Publication JPB1 42-18893 (1967). In the prior art, the metal strip 1 is held between a pair of elastic rolls 8 at the sealed portions 5 and 6 of the inlet and the outlet, respectively. A seal plate 9 pushes the outer peripheral side surface of the elastic roll 8 to hermetically seal the boundary between the casing 10 of the bright annealing furnace 2 and each elastic roll 8.
FIG. 11 shows a structure for sealing the end surface of the elastic roll 8 of the above-mentioned prior art. As shown in FIG. 11A, the elastic roll 8 comprises a shaft 11 disposed in the center of the roll, a main roll body 12 made of metal and a rubber covering 13 provided on the outer peripheral surface of the main roll body. At each end of the elastic roll 8 in the axial direction thereof, a rubber washer 14, a friction washer 15 and a metal seal washer 16 are disposed between the end surface of the elastic roll 8 and the side wall of a casing 10. The rubber washer 14 is pushed against the elastic roll 8 in the axial direction thereof so as to hermetically seal the boundary between the end surface of the elastic roll 8 and the side wall of the casing 10. In case the rubber washer 14 is used alone, the washer partially swells and fits in a guide groove 17 for the shaft 11, which is disposed in the casing 10, as shown in FIG. 11B. Since the side wall of the casing 10 is stationary and the elastic roll 8 rotates, in case the rubber washer 14 partially swells as shown in FIG. 11B, the rotation load of the elastic roll 8 is apt to increase and the rubber washer 14 is apt to wear. To prevent this problem, the friction washer 15 made of easily slidable Teflon resin or the like and the metal seal washer 16 are provided.
In the prior art shown in FIG. 11, a variety of washers are disposed between the elastic roll 8 and the side wall of the casing 10 to hermetically seal the end surface of the elastic roll 8. However, it is very difficult to reduce the rotation load of the elastic roll 8 while enhancing the sealing performance at the end of the roll. In case only the rubber washer 14 is used, the rotation load is high, and in case the friction washer 15 and the metal seal washer 16 are used additionally, the rotation load is relatively lower provided that the pushing force of the roll is
REFERENCES:
patent: 3291468 (1966-12-01), Albertsen et al.
patent: 4981303 (1991-01-01), Matsushima et al.
patent: 5456475 (1995-10-01), Abraham et al.
New U.S. Patent Application filed Feb. 7, 1996 Corresponding to PCT/JP95/01100, filed Jun. 5, 1995, by Teruhisa Nakamura, entitled "Sealing Apparatus for Inlet/Outlet of Atmosphere Heat Treatment Furnace".
Bennett Henry A.
Nisshin Steel Co. Ltd.
Wilson Gregory A.
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